CVE-2022-26690Public exploit

Protected filesystem modification via installer directory race

Published May 26, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

A race condition in PackageKit in Apple macOS Monterey before 12.3 allows local users to modify protected filesystem content. PackageKit trusts an installer scripts directory after validation while disk-image ejection and path recreation can replace it with untrusted content. Exploitation requires a local malicious application to win the race, after which system_installd executes its script outside the isolated XPC service and bypasses SIP.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability1.64%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A race condition in PackageKit in Apple macOS Monterey before 12.3 allows local users to modify protected filesystem content. PackageKit trusts an installer scripts directory after validation while disk-image ejection and path recreation can replace it with untrusted content. Exploitation requires a local malicious application to win the race, after which system_installd executes its script outside the isolated XPC service and bypasses SIP.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-26690
Published
May 26, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-362, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 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 <12.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <12.3

Published CVSS scores

2.6NIST NVDAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
4.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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