CVE-2022-22647

Desktop disclosure via LoginWindow authentication state mishandling

Published Mar 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Authentication bypass in Apple macOS allows physically proximate attackers to view a prior user's desktop through Fast User Switching. LoginWindow mishandles authentication state during Fast User Switching and presents the previously logged-in desktop without completing authentication. Physical access to a Mac at that screen is required; the documented consequence is desktop disclosure, not remote access or code execution.

CVSS severity4.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Apple macOS allows physically proximate attackers to view a prior user's desktop through Fast User Switching. LoginWindow mishandles authentication state during Fast User Switching and presents the previously logged-in desktop without completing authentication. Physical access to a Mac at that screen is required; the documented consequence is desktop disclosure, not remote access or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-22647
Published
Mar 18, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
physical
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

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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 vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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