CVE-2022-22587
Apple Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2022-22587 is a CRITICAL memory corruption vulnerability in Apple's IOMobileFrameBuffer kernel extension affecting iOS (prior to 15.3), iPadOS (prior to 15.3), and macOS Monterey (prior to 12.2) as well as macOS Big Sur (prior to 11.6.3). Classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), this vulnerability allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges by exploiting a memory corruption flaw in the display buffer management subsystem. With a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) and a network-accessible attack vector, this is one of the most severe Apple kernel vulnerabilities in recent years. Despite its critical CVSS rating, the EPSS score of 0.00373 (58.7th percentile) is relatively modest, suggesting exploitation has been targeted rather than widespread. CVE-2022-22587 is listed in CISA's KEV catalog with a remediation deadline of February 11, 2022, and no ransomware association is documented.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| apple | ipados | < 15.3 |
| apple | iphone os | < 15.3 |
| apple | macos | < 11.6.3; >= 12.0, < 12.2 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213053(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213054(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213055(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-22587(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) is a critical vulnerability class that occurs when software writes data beyond the intended boundaries of a buffer in memory. This can happen through buffer overflows, incorrect size calculations, integer overflows, or type confusion. In the context of kernel extensions, out-of-bounds writes are particularly dangerous because they can corrupt kernel memory, overwrite control flow data, and enable arbitrary code execution at the highest privilege level. CWE-787 consistently ranks as the most dangerous software weakness in the MITRE CWE Top 25 due to its direct path to code execution.
In CVE-2022-22587, Apple's IOMobileFrameBuffer kernel extension contains a memory corruption vulnerability that results in an out-of-bounds write condition. IOMobileFrameBuffer is a kernel-level driver responsible for managing the display framebuffer on Apple devices — it handles the memory regions used to render screen content for both the main display and external displays. The vulnerability occurs when the driver processes certain operations related to framebuffer management and fails to properly validate memory boundaries, leading to corruption of adjacent kernel heap memory. Because this kernel extension runs with the highest privileges and has direct access to hardware display resources, exploitation enables full kernel-level code execution. Learn more about CWE-787 at turingsecure.com.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2022-22587 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with an Unchanged scope, reflecting the maximum severity rating for a vulnerability with network-accessible attack vector and no authentication requirements.
Confidentiality (High): Kernel-level code execution on Apple devices grants the attacker unrestricted access to all data stored on the device. On iOS/iPadOS, this includes the complete keychain (passwords, certificates, tokens), messages, photos, emails, health data, location history, and data from all installed applications. On macOS, the attacker gains access to all user files, FileVault encryption keys, SSH keys, and browser credentials. Kernel access completely bypasses the iOS/iPadOS sandbox and all data protection classes.
Integrity (High): With kernel privileges, an attacker can modify any file on the device, patch kernel code in memory, disable code signing enforcement, install persistent implants, and alter system security policies. On iOS, kernel access enables capabilities equivalent to a jailbreak — disabling all platform security restrictions including Secure Boot chain validation, app sandbox enforcement, and entitlement checks. The attacker can inject code into any running process and modify the behavior of system services.
Availability (High): Kernel-level access enables the attacker to crash the device (kernel panic), corrupt the filesystem, brick the device through firmware modification, or render it permanently inoperable. On mobile devices, this could result in complete data loss if the device cannot be recovered.
Scope (Unchanged): While the CVSS scope is rated Unchanged, the practical impact of kernel compromise on a mobile device is comprehensive — the attacker effectively controls all hardware and software on the device. The EPSS score of 0.00373 at the 58.7th percentile suggests that exploitation has been targeted rather than widespread, consistent with the pattern of advanced threat actors using Apple kernel vulnerabilities for surveillance operations against specific high-value targets.
Exploit Maturity
Active Exploitation: CVE-2022-22587 has been confirmed as actively exploited in the wild. Apple acknowledged in its security advisories for iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, and macOS 12.2 that this vulnerability "may have been actively exploited." CISA added it to the KEV catalog on January 28, 2022, confirming active exploitation with a very tight remediation deadline.
Ransomware Association: CISA's KEV catalog does not indicate a ransomware association for CVE-2022-22587. Apple kernel vulnerabilities of this nature are typically used in targeted surveillance and espionage operations rather than commodity ransomware campaigns, given the sophistication required and the high value of zero-day iOS kernel exploits in the commercial exploit market.
Public Exploits: While the specific exploit details have not been widely published in public exploit repositories, the vulnerability was exploited as a zero-day before Apple released patches. The security research community has analyzed the IOMobileFrameBuffer component extensively, and related vulnerabilities in this component have been publicly documented. Apple's advisory credits an anonymous researcher for the vulnerability report.
EPSS Context: The EPSS score of 0.00373 at the 58.7th percentile is relatively low for a CRITICAL vulnerability, reflecting that exploitation has been targeted and limited rather than widespread. This pattern is typical of high-value Apple zero-day vulnerabilities that are used selectively against specific targets rather than in mass exploitation campaigns.
KEV Remediation Deadline: CISA set a very aggressive remediation deadline of February 11, 2022, just 14 days from the catalog addition date of January 28, 2022, reflecting the severity and active exploitation of this kernel-level vulnerability.
Remediation
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Update all affected Apple devices to patched versions immediately. For iPhones and iPads, update to iOS/iPadOS 15.3 or later. For Macs running Monterey, update to macOS 12.2 or later. For Macs running Big Sur, update to macOS 11.6.3 or later. These updates are available through the standard Apple Software Update mechanism and address the IOMobileFrameBuffer memory corruption vulnerability.
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Upgrade to the latest supported Apple operating system versions. iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, and macOS 12.2 are themselves now outdated. Upgrade to the latest versions (iOS 17+, iPadOS 17+, macOS 14+ Sonoma) to benefit from ongoing security updates and modern kernel security hardening including improved Pointer Authentication Codes (PAC), kernel address space layout randomization, and hardware-based memory safety improvements on Apple Silicon.
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Enable Lockdown Mode on high-risk devices. For users at elevated risk of targeted attacks (journalists, activists, executives, government officials), enable Apple's Lockdown Mode (available in iOS 16+ and macOS 13+). Lockdown Mode significantly reduces the attack surface by disabling many features that are commonly targeted by exploit chains, including certain font rendering capabilities, link previews, and complex document parsing.
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Implement mobile device management (MDM) with minimum OS version enforcement. Deploy MDM profiles that enforce minimum operating system versions and ensure that security updates are applied within a defined timeframe. Configure compliance policies to restrict access to corporate resources from devices running outdated software.
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Monitor for indicators of kernel-level compromise on Apple devices. Deploy mobile threat detection solutions capable of identifying signs of kernel exploitation, including unexpected kernel panics, jailbreak indicators, modification of system integrity protection settings, and anomalous process behavior. On managed devices, monitor for MDM profile removal or compliance violations that may indicate device compromise.
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Audit corporate Apple device inventory for update compliance. Conduct an immediate inventory of all Apple devices within the organization, verify their current operating system versions, and prioritize updates for any devices running versions prior to the patched releases. Pay special attention to executive devices and those used by personnel who may be targets of surveillance operations.
Technical Details
CVE-2022-22587 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Apple's IOMobileFrameBuffer kernel extension that enables arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. IOMobileFrameBuffer is a kernel-level driver that manages the display framebuffer — the memory region used to store pixel data before it is sent to the display hardware. This driver handles operations including framebuffer allocation, display resolution management, and pixel format conversion.
The vulnerability occurs due to a memory corruption condition in the IOMobileFrameBuffer driver that results in an out-of-bounds write to kernel heap memory. When the driver processes certain framebuffer management operations, it fails to properly validate memory boundaries or object sizes, allowing data to be written outside the allocated buffer. This corrupts adjacent kernel heap structures, which can be leveraged by an attacker to achieve controlled kernel memory writes and ultimately arbitrary code execution.
The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) rates this as a network-accessible vulnerability requiring no authentication and no user interaction. This unusual rating for a kernel driver vulnerability suggests that the exploitation path may involve network-delivered content that triggers the framebuffer processing code path, or that the attack can be initiated remotely through a crafted application or web content that interacts with the display subsystem.
The root cause is insufficient validation of data that flows into the IOMobileFrameBuffer driver during framebuffer management operations. The driver trusts certain size or offset values without proper bounds checking, leading to the out-of-bounds write condition. Apple addressed this vulnerability by adding proper input validation and bounds checking to the affected code paths in the IOMobileFrameBuffer driver, as documented in the security advisories for iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, macOS 12.2, and macOS 11.6.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-22587?
CVE-2022-22587 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple's IOMobileFrameBuffer kernel extension that allows arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. It affects iOS versions prior to 15.3, iPadOS versions prior to 15.3, macOS Monterey prior to 12.2, and macOS Big Sur prior to 11.6.3. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) and was confirmed by Apple as exploited in the wild before patches were available.
Which Apple devices are affected by CVE-2022-22587?
CVE-2022-22587 affects iPhones and iPads running iOS/iPadOS versions prior to 15.3, and Mac computers running macOS Monterey prior to 12.2 or macOS Big Sur prior to 11.6.3. This encompasses a wide range of Apple devices including iPhone 6s and later, all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch 7th generation, as well as Mac computers compatible with macOS Monterey or Big Sur.
How severe is CVE-2022-22587?
CVE-2022-22587 is rated CRITICAL with the maximum CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 and is confirmed by Apple as exploited in the wild. It is listed in CISA's KEV catalog with a 14-day remediation deadline. The vulnerability enables kernel-level code execution, which on Apple devices grants complete control over the device — bypassing all sandboxing, data protection, and security restrictions. The relatively low EPSS score (58.7th percentile) suggests targeted rather than mass exploitation.
How do I fix CVE-2022-22587?
Update all Apple devices to the patched versions: iOS/iPadOS 15.3 or later, macOS Monterey 12.2 or later, or macOS Big Sur 11.6.3 or later. Since these versions are now outdated, upgrade to the latest supported releases (iOS 17+, macOS 14+). For high-risk individuals, enable Apple's Lockdown Mode to reduce the attack surface. Deploy MDM solutions to enforce minimum OS version requirements across organizational devices.
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