CVE-2022-22640

Kernel code execution via insufficient input validation

Published Mar 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Kernel memory corruption before iOS/tvOS 15.4, macOS 12.3, and watchOS 8.5 allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. Insufficient validation in the Kernel permits an out-of-bounds write that corrupts kernel memory. A user must run or interact with a crafted local application; successful exploitation crosses the application boundary and gains kernel privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel memory corruption before iOS/tvOS 15.4, macOS 12.3, and watchOS 8.5 allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. Insufficient validation in the Kernel permits an out-of-bounds write that corrupts kernel memory. A user must run or interact with a crafted local application; successful exploitation crosses the application boundary and gains kernel privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-22640
Published
Mar 18, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-787, T1404, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 18, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <15.4
Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <15.4
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <12.3
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <8.5

Published CVSS scores

9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

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