CVE-2022-46689Public exploit

Kernel code execution via unaligned copy race

Published Dec 15, 2022 · Updated Apr 21, 2025

Kernel race condition in Apple operating systems allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges through an app. The XNU vm_map_copy_overwrite_unaligned path can race after dropping and reacquiring the map lock, permitting a stale writable mapping to overwrite read-only copy-on-write pages. Running a crafted local app and winning the race is required; successful exploitation can modify protected files and take kernel-level control.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability44.68%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel race condition in Apple operating systems allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges through an app. The XNU vm_map_copy_overwrite_unaligned path can race after dropping and reacquiring the map lock, permitting a stale writable mapping to overwrite read-only copy-on-write pages. Running a crafted local app and winning the race is required; successful exploitation can modify protected files and take kernel-level control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-46689
Published
Dec 15, 2022
Updated
Apr 21, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
tvOS
Classifications
CWE-362, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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

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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.6
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <13.1
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.7
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <16.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <12.6; version=unspecified <13.1; version=unspecified <15.7; version=unspecified <16.2
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.7
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <9.2

Published CVSS scores

7.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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