Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-43454 is an Apple operating system flaw where a local app could gain kernel-level control. That is the highest privilege tier on the device. Apple says the issue was fixed through improved memory management in macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS/iPadOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2, and tvOS 16.2.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority Apple endpoint update issue, especially for managed fleets with user-installed apps. It enables kernel-level code execution, but current evidence in the provided sources does not support emergency active-exploitation handling.
Technical view
The vulnerability is a double free memory management issue, mapped to CWE-415. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Apple devices running versions older than the fixed releases named by Apple. The source bundle does not identify specific subcomponents or exact vulnerable version ranges beyond macOS, iOS/iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. The described scenario requires an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, but no exploit details or observed exploitation are provided.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strong for vulnerability class, impact, CVSS, and fixed Apple releases. Evidence is incomplete for exact affected build ranges, vulnerable component, exploit maturity, and exploitation in the wild. Avoid assuming broader Apple platforms or active exploitation without additional cited sources.
Mitigation direction
- Update macOS systems to Ventura 13.1 or later where applicable.
- Update iPhones and iPads to iOS or iPadOS 16.2 or later.
- Update Apple Watch and Apple TV devices to watchOS 9.2 and tvOS 16.2 or later.
- Use MDM controls to prioritize updates on devices allowed to install untrusted apps.
- Check Apple guidance for platform-specific update availability and superseding fixes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Apple device OS versions across managed and unmanaged fleets.
- Compare each device against the fixed versions named by Apple.
- Confirm MDM compliance reports show successful installation of applicable updates.
- Review exceptions for unsupported devices or devices blocked from updating.
- Track that no cited source currently supports active exploitation claims.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-415: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-43454 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102808CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102741CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102807CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102836CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Double Free
Double Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.