CVE-2022-48618
CVE-2022-48618 is a security flaw in Apple devices, the software on Apple’s iPhones, iPads and Macs. Attackers can corrupt memory in Apple devices, which they use to take it over. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 31 Jan 2024.[1]
Apple devices is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 16.2, 13.1 and 9.2.
Description
CISA calls it a memory corruption in Apple Multiple Products. In its words: “Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS contain a time-of-check/time-of-use (TOCTOU) memory corruption vulnerability that allows an attacker with read and write capabilities to bypass Pointer Authentication.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.1, watchOS 9.2, iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2. An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to bypass Pointer Authentication. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-367, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.0 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| tvOS | 16.2 |
| macOS | 13.1 |
| iOS and iPadOS | 16.2 |
| watchOS | 9.2 |
| iphone_os | 16.2 |
| ipados | 16.2 |
| tvos | 16.2 |
| macos | 13.1 |
Every device with Apple devices needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 31 Jan 2024, 22 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 21 Feb 2024 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at under 1%. That’s in the top 59% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Apple has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Update Apple devices now.On iPhone and iPad: Settings, General, Software Update. On a Mac: System Settings, General, Software Update. Install it on every Apple device in the house. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 16.2 or later.Fixed in version 16.2, 13.1 and 9.2. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.0.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at under 1%.[4] |
See also
Other Apple devices flaws
- CVE-2026-86950: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-43520: classic buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-43510: improper locking ·
- CVE-2025-31277: buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2023-43000: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-30952: integer overflow or wraparound ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2025-38352, Linux Kernel: time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition ·
- CVE-2025-22224, VMware ESXi and Workstation: TOCTOU race condition ·
- CVE-2024-30088, Microsoft Windows: kernel TOCTOU race condition ·
- CVE-2023-35311, Microsoft Outlook: security feature bypass ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-21893, Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and Neurons: server-side request forgery (SSRF) ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in January 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 31 Jan 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-48618 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 9 Jan 2024.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.005, percentile 41.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-48618”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.