Kernel code execution via IOSurfaceAccelerator corruption
Published May 26, 2022 · Updated May 30, 2025
Memory corruption in Apple watchOS before 8.6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a malicious application. The IOSurfaceAccelerator component mishandles internal state during memory operations, producing a corruption condition that can be reached by crafted application activity. A malicious application must run on the watch; successful exploitation gives kernel-level code execution, while the advisory does not describe a remote attack path.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in Apple watchOS before 8.6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a malicious application. The IOSurfaceAccelerator component mishandles internal state during memory operations, producing a corruption condition that can be reached by crafted application activity. A malicious application must run on the watch; successful exploitation gives kernel-level code execution, while the advisory does not describe a remote attack path.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-26768
- Published
- May 26, 2022
- Updated
- May 30, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- watchOS
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 26, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 30, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.6
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.4
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.5
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <8.6
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.
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
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Your stack
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