watchOS: Integer Overflow or Wraparound
CVE-2022-26711 is a critical-severity integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability in watchOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 8.6, 15.5, 12.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating watchOS to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 4.04% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 9.23% of all scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update watchOS to 8.6 or 15.5 or 12.4 or 12.12, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Itunes to 12.12.4 or a later version.
- Update iPadOS to 15.5 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | watchOS | before 8.6; before 15.5; before 12.4; before 12.12 | 8.6, 15.5, 12.4, 12.12 |
| Apple | Itunes | before 12.12.4 | 12.12.4 |
| Apple | iPadOS | before 15.5 | 15.5 |
| Apple | Iphone OS | before 15.5 | 15.5 |
| Apple | macOS | 12.0.0 up to, but not including, 12.4 | 12.4 |
| Apple | tvOS | before 15.5 | 15.5 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
An integer overflow issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in tvOS 15.5, iTunes 12.12.4 for Windows, iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6, macOS Monterey 12.4. A remote attacker may be able to cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Integer Overflow or Wraparound
The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that all protocols are strictly defined, such that all out-of-bounds behavior can be identified simply, and require strict conformance to the protocol.
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. If possible, choose a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Use libraries or frameworks that make it easier to handle numbers without unexpected consequences. Examples include safe integer handling packages such as SafeInt (C++) or IntegerLib (C or C++).
More Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerabilities (CWE-190)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213253Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213254Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213257Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213258Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213259Release Notes
Other vulnerabilities in watchOS
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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