CVE-2022-42845Known exploitation

Kernel code execution via memory handling

Published Dec 15, 2022 · Updated Apr 21, 2025

A kernel memory-management vulnerability in Apple tvOS, macOS, and watchOS allows remote attackers with root privileges to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The Kernel component used flawed memory handling and checks; Apple has not disclosed the precise operation or input that triggers the flaw. Exploitation requires an app already running with root privileges or arbitrary kernel read/write capability, and Apple reports possible exploitation of pre-iOS 15.7.1 releases.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A kernel memory-management vulnerability in Apple tvOS, macOS, and watchOS allows remote attackers with root privileges to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The Kernel component used flawed memory handling and checks; Apple has not disclosed the precise operation or input that triggers the flaw. Exploitation requires an app already running with root privileges or arbitrary kernel read/write capability, and Apple reports possible exploitation of pre-iOS 15.7.1 releases.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-42845
Published
Dec 15, 2022
Updated
Apr 21, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
tvOS
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 15, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 21, 2025Record 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 <12.6
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <13.1
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <16.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <12.6; version=unspecified <13.1; version=unspecified <16.2
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.7
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <9.2

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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