---
id: "CVE-2022-48618"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2022-48618"]
title: "The issue was addressed with improved checks"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.0
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "Apple Multiple Products", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple ipados", "fixed": ["16.2"], "affected": "< 16.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple iphone os", "fixed": ["16.2"], "affected": "< 16.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple macos", "fixed": ["13.1"], "affected": ">= 13.0, < 13.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple tvos", "fixed": ["16.2"], "affected": "< 16.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apple watchos", "fixed": ["9.2"], "affected": "< 9.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apple", "exploited", "ios", "ipados", "macos", "tvos", "vendor", "watchos"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2024-01-09T18:15:45+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-48618", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-48618", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# The issue was addressed with improved checks

Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS contain a time-of-check/time-of-use memory corruption flaw that lets an attacker with read and write access bypass Pointer Authentication. CISA lists it as actively exploited in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Apple Multiple Products affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:apple ipados affected < 16.2 fixed 16.2
- vendor:apple iphone os affected < 16.2 fixed 16.2
- vendor:apple macos affected >= 13.0, < 13.1 fixed 13.1
- vendor:apple tvos affected < 16.2 fixed 16.2
- vendor:apple watchos affected < 9.2 fixed 9.2

## How to check

Check the device OS version under Settings > General > About (iOS/iPadOS) or Apple menu > About This Mac (macOS) and compare it to Apple's security notes; the sources do not give fixed versions.

## Fix

Update Apple devices to the latest OS release per Apple's vendor instructions; CISA says to apply vendor mitigations or discontinue use if none are available.
The sources do not name the fixed versions.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-48618
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-48618

## From the sources

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.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_
