CVE-2022-22582Public exploit

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.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability17.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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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

  1. Feb 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.6
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.3
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2022

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.6; version=unspecified <12.3; version=unspecified <2022

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.0NCC GroupCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

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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