Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-48503 is an Apple web content processing flaw that can allow arbitrary code execution. In business terms, a user viewing malicious web content on an unpatched Apple device could be exposed. Apple fixed it across Safari, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Monterey, tvOS, and watchOS releases.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation because Apple confirms arbitrary code execution from web content and CISA lists the CVE as known exploited. This should be handled as urgent patch hygiene for Apple fleets, especially user endpoints and browsers.
Technical view
The issue is a bounds-checking weakness associated with CWE-129. The CVSS 3.1 vector is 8.8 high, network-reachable, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required. Apple states processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution and fixed it with improved bounds checks.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Apple devices or Safari installations that predate Safari 15.6, iOS/iPadOS 15.6, macOS Monterey 12.5, tvOS 15.6, or watchOS 8.7. The source bundle does not enumerate exact vulnerable version ranges.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV lists CVE-2022-48503 as known exploited, so treat it as more than theoretical. The provided sources do not describe exploit mechanics, observed campaigns, or indicators. User interaction is required because exploitation involves processing web content.
Researcher notes
The public record is sparse: Apple identifies improved bounds checks and web content code execution, but provides no component-level exploit details in the supplied sources. Affected version ranges are unspecified, so validation should key off Apple fixed release thresholds and vendor advisories.
Mitigation direction
- Update Safari to 15.6 or later where applicable.
- Update iOS and iPadOS to 15.6 or later.
- Update macOS Monterey to 12.5 or later.
- Update tvOS to 15.6 and watchOS to 8.7 or later.
- Check Apple guidance for unsupported or older product branches.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Apple endpoints and Safari versions across managed assets.
- Confirm installed versions meet or exceed Apple fixed releases.
- Prioritize devices used for browsing external web content.
- Check vulnerability management tools for CVE-2022-48503 detections.
- Track CISA KEV status for remediation governance.
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-129: 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-2022-48503 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
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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.
CISA KEV status
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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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/HT213345CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213342CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213341CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213340CVE reference
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213346CVE reference
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-48503CVE reference · government-resource
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.
Improper Validation of Array Index
Improper Validation of Array Index represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.