Kernel code execution via dangling page-table entry
Published Nov 1, 2022 · Updated May 6, 2025
Memory corruption in Apple XNU on affected macOS, tvOS, and watchOS releases allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. Integer truncation while collapsing vm_object shadow chains leaves a dangling page-table entry that can reference reallocated physical memory. Execution of a crafted local app is required; successful exploitation crosses the user-to-kernel boundary and grants kernel control.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in Apple XNU on affected macOS, tvOS, and watchOS releases allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. Integer truncation while collapsing vm_object shadow chains leaves a dangling page-table entry that can reference reallocated physical memory. Execution of a crafted local app is required; successful exploitation crosses the user-to-kernel boundary and grants kernel control.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-32924
- Published
- Nov 1, 2022
- Updated
- May 6, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- tvOS
- Classifications
- CWE-94, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 1, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 6, 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 <11.7
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <16.1
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- XNU dangling PTE entry demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Apple report of possible active exploitationreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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