Arbitrary file write via failed symlink validation
Published Feb 27, 2023 · Updated Mar 11, 2025
Symlink validation in xar on Apple macOS allows local users to write arbitrary files when extracting a crafted XAR archive. xar processes its archive table of contents in reverse, creates a directory symlink, continues after the corresponding real-directory creation fails, and writes the archived file through the symlink. Exploitation requires a local user to extract an attacker-crafted XAR archive; the resulting write targets a location selected by the attacker.
Summary
What happened
Symlink validation in xar on Apple macOS allows local users to write arbitrary files when extracting a crafted XAR archive. xar processes its archive table of contents in reverse, creates a directory symlink, continues after the corresponding real-directory creation fails, and writes the archived file through the symlink. Exploitation requires a local user to extract an attacker-crafted XAR archive; the resulting write targets a location selected by the attacker.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-22582
- Published
- Feb 27, 2023
- Updated
- Mar 11, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-59, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 11, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.6
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.3
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <2022
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- NCC Group crafted XAR proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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