CVE-2022-22620
Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Webkit Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2022-22620 is a HIGH use after free vulnerability affecting Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, carrying a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8. Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS WebKit contain a use-after-free vulnerability that leads to code execution when processing maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability could impact HTML parsers that use WebKit, including but not limited to Apple Safari and non-Apple products which rely on WebKit for HTML processing. Affected products include Apple Safari (< 15.3), Apple Ipados (< 15.3.1), Apple Iphone Os (< 15.3.1), Apple Macos (>= 12.0.0, < 12.2.1). This CVE is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog with a remediation deadline of 2022-02-25. With an EPSS score of 0.04022 (88.3th percentile), this vulnerability demonstrates significant real-world exploitation activity and should be prioritized for immediate remediation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| apple | safari | < 15.3 |
| apple | ipados | < 15.3.1 |
| apple | iphone os | < 15.3.1 |
| apple | macos | >= 12.0.0, < 12.2.1 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-39(Third Party Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213091(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213092(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213093(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-22620(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-416: Use After Free
CVE-2022-22620 is classified under CWE-416 — Use After Free. Use After Free (UAF) is a vulnerability that occurs when software continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. Once memory is freed, it may be reallocated for other purposes. If the dangling pointer is subsequently dereferenced, the program may read or write to memory now used for different data structures, leading to data corruption, information disclosure, or code execution. Use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly prevalent in complex applications with manual memory management, including browsers, document parsers, and operating system kernels.
In the context of Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, this weakness is particularly concerning because Use-after-free vulnerabilities are highly exploitable and consistently rank among the most dangerous software weaknesses. Attackers leverage heap manipulation techniques to control what data occupies the freed memory when the dangling pointer is dereferenced. By placing attacker-controlled objects (containing function pointers or vtables) in the freed space, code execution is achieved when the stale pointer is used. Organizations using affected versions should understand that this vulnerability class has historically enabled severe compromises across enterprise environments.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2022-22620 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (HIGH) with Unchanged Scope.
Confidentiality (HIGH): Successful exploitation grants the attacker extensive access to sensitive data processed by Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, including configuration files, credentials, and potentially data from connected systems.
Integrity (HIGH): Attackers can modify critical system files, install backdoors, alter configurations, or deploy malware on affected systems running Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Availability (HIGH): Complete disruption of the affected service or system is possible, including denial of service, system crashes, or rendering the product inoperable.
Scope Unchanged: The vulnerability's scope is Unchanged (U), meaning exploitation is contained within the vulnerable component. The impact, while significant, is limited to the Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS environment itself.
With an EPSS score of 0.04022 (88.3th percentile), this vulnerability ranks among the most likely to be exploited in real-world attacks, underscoring the urgency of remediation.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2022-22620 has confirmed active exploitation in the wild and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Exploit status: This vulnerability has been actively exploited, as confirmed by its inclusion in the KEV catalog. The EPSS score of 0.04022 (88.3th percentile) places it among the most exploited vulnerabilities tracked.
Ransomware association: As of the latest KEV data, no direct ransomware association has been confirmed for CVE-2022-22620. However, the confirmed exploitation in the wild means threat actors are actively using this vulnerability in attacks.
Attack surface: While specific public exploit code may not be readily available, the vulnerability's high EPSS score and KEV listing confirm that threat actors have developed and used working exploits. Organizations should assume exploitation tools exist in underground markets and private threat actor toolkits.
KEV deadline: CISA required federal agencies to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-02-25. All organizations should treat this deadline as a strong recommendation for their own remediation timelines.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately. Apply updates per vendor instructions. Consult the vendor advisory at support.apple.com for specific patch guidance.
- Verify affected product versions in your environment. Identify all instances of Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS in your infrastructure (affected versions: Apple Safari (< 15.3), Apple Ipados (< 15.3.1), Apple Iphone Os (< 15.3.1), Apple Macos (>= 12.0.0, < 12.2.1)). Use asset inventory and vulnerability scanning tools to ensure no instances are missed.
- Implement interim mitigations if patching is delayed. If immediate patching is not feasible, apply network-level controls such as restricting access to the affected component, enabling enhanced logging, and monitoring for indicators of compromise.
- Scan for signs of prior exploitation. Given the confirmed active exploitation of this vulnerability, review system logs and security monitoring data for evidence of compromise. Conduct a thorough investigation if any suspicious activity is detected.
- Update detection signatures and monitoring rules. Ensure intrusion detection and prevention systems, endpoint detection tools, and SIEM rules are updated to detect exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2022-22620.
- Conduct a post-remediation review. After patching, verify the fix is effective and document the remediation actions taken. Update your vulnerability management records and assess whether any additional hardening measures are warranted.
Technical Details
CVE-2022-22620 is a HIGH-severity vulnerability in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that can be exploited remotely over the network without physical access. The attack complexity is low, meaning no specialized conditions or preparation are required beyond the attack prerequisites. No prior authentication or privileges are needed to initiate the attack. User interaction is required, meaning a victim must perform an action such as opening a file, clicking a link, or visiting a website for exploitation to succeed.
Technical mechanism: Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS WebKit contain a use-after-free vulnerability that leads to code execution when processing maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability could impact HTML parsers that use WebKit, including but not limited to Apple Safari and non-Apple products which rely on WebKit for HTML processing. The underlying flaw relates to use after free, where Use After Free (UAF) is a vulnerability that occurs when software continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. Once memory is freed, it may be reallocated for other purposes.
CVSS 3.1 vector analysis: The vector reflects an Attack Vector of NETWORK, Attack Complexity of LOW, Privileges Required of NONE, User Interaction of REQUIRED, Scope UNCHANGED, and impact ratings of HIGH/HIGH/HIGH for Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability respectively. The Unchanged scope means impact is contained within the vulnerable component itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-22620?
CVE-2022-22620 is a HIGH-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS WebKit contain a use-after-free vulnerability that leads to code execution when processing maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability could impact HTML parsers that use WebKit, including but not limited to Apple Safari and non-Apple products which rely on WebKit for HTML processing. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming real-world exploitation.
Which products are affected by CVE-2022-22620?
The affected products include Apple Safari (< 15.3), Apple Ipados (< 15.3.1), Apple Iphone Os (< 15.3.1), Apple Macos (>= 12.0.0, < 12.2.1). Organizations running any of these versions should verify their exposure and prioritize remediation. Multiple product versions and configurations are affected, making thorough asset inventory essential.
How do I fix CVE-2022-22620?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Ensure all affected instances of Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are identified using vulnerability scanning and asset management tools. If immediate patching is not possible, implement network-level mitigations and enhanced monitoring. After patching, verify the fix and scan for indicators of prior compromise.
How severe is CVE-2022-22620?
CVE-2022-22620 is rated HIGH with a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8. Its EPSS score of 0.04022 places it in the 88.3th percentile for exploitation likelihood. The vulnerability has confirmed active exploitation in the wild and was required to be remediated by federal agencies by 2022-02-25 per CISA's KEV directive.
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