CVE-2022-42856
Apple iOS Type Confusion Vulnerability
Apple iOS
A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 16.2, tvOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2, iOS 16.1.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.1..
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 14 December 2022. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 4 January 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 8.5%, which is higher than 94.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2022-42856 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2022-42856.
What does CVE-2022-42856 affect?
CVE-2022-42856 affects Apple iOS. A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 16.2, tvOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2, iOS 16.1.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.1..
How severe is CVE-2022-42856?
CVE-2022-42856 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 8.5%, higher than 94.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 4 January 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2022-42856?
Apply the vendor patch for Apple iOS as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.