Apple macOS Out-of-Bounds Read
CVE-2022-22674 is a medium-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in macOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 12.3, 2022, 11.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating macOS to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on April 4, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update macOS to 12.3 or 2022 or 11.6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Mac OS X to 10.15.7 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | macOS | before 12.3; before 2022; before 11.6 | 12.3, 2022, 11.6 |
| Apple | Mac OS X | 10.15 up to, but not including, 10.15.7; 10.15.7 | 10.15.7 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.5 | Medium | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.5 | Medium | CISA (ADP) |
| CVSS 2.0 | 4.9 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
An out-of-bounds read issue existed that led to the disclosure of kernel memory. This was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.3.1, Security Update 2022-004 Catalina, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6. A local user may be able to read kernel memory.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.
Timeline
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213220Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213255Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213256Release Notes
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-22674Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in macOS
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
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