Pointer Authentication bypass via kernel TOCTOU race
Published Jan 9, 2024 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Kernel memory corruption in affected Apple operating systems allows local users with kernel read and write access to bypass Pointer Authentication. A time-of-check/time-of-use race in the kernel permits protected state to change between validation and use, defeating pointer integrity checks. Exploitation requires prior arbitrary kernel read and write capability; the bypass removes a control against using corrupted pointers.
Summary
What happened
Kernel memory corruption in affected Apple operating systems allows local users with kernel read and write access to bypass Pointer Authentication. A time-of-check/time-of-use race in the kernel permits protected state to change between validation and use, defeating pointer integrity checks. Exploitation requires prior arbitrary kernel read and write capability; the bypass removes a control against using corrupted pointers.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-48618
- Published
- Jan 9, 2024
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS
- Classifications
- CWE-367, T1211
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <16.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities entryknown exploited catalog
- Apple reported possible exploitation against pre-15.7.1 iOSreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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