In September 2022, Apple fixed a serious security issue identified as CVE-2022-42796. This bug allowed malicious apps to gain higher privileges on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. In this long read, I'll guide you through what the vulnerability is, how it was fixed, show you code snippets illustrating “what went wrong”, give you simple explanations, and share resources for further reading.

macOS Ventura (before 13.)

It allowed a rogue app to get elevated privileges—meaning, an app could break out of its “safe area” (sandbox), and get system-level permissions it shouldn’t normally have. This would let an attacker do things like access restricted files, mess with your settings, or even install malware.

According to Apple’s security release notes

> “This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.”

That means Apple’s developers found the root cause of the issue—a segment of code in the OS that let apps ask for more privileges than they should—and simply removed it.

What Did the Vulnerable Code Look Like?

Apple doesn’t publish exploit code, but security researchers often reconstruct what might have happened. Let’s imagine the vulnerable code was something simple, like this (illustrative pseudo-code):

// Hypothetical vulnerable code before fix
if (user_is_app && request_elevated_privilege) {
    grant_root_access();
}

The bug here? Any app could just ask for elevated privileges, and if it passed a condition (maybe a wrong check), it would get it!

Fixed Code

// After fix: Remove the path that grants extra privileges
if (user_is_app) {
    deny_access();
}

By removing the path that grants “root” to the app, the risk goes away.

Persist on your device: Make it hard to remove attackers or install malware that hides itself.

So, an everyday example: You download a game from a shady site. If that game uses this bug, it could secretly install spyware, read your messages, or change your settings—without your consent!

How Can You Protect Yourself?

Good news: Apple patched this bug in iOS 15.7, iPadOS 15.7, and macOS Ventura 13. and later.

Here are original references and security bulletins so you can learn more

- Apple Security Update for iOS 15.7 and iPadOS 15.7
- Apple Security Update for macOS Ventura 13.
- MITRE CVE Database: CVE-2022-42796

Summary and Closing Thoughts

CVE-2022-42796 is one more example of how privilege escalation bugs can allow attackers to take control of your devices. Apple’s response—removing the risky code path—showed that simple solutions are sometimes the best. Always keep your devices up to date, and be careful about what you install.

If you found this post useful, share it with friends and family to help keep everyone protected!


*Note: This article was written in plain language to help everyone understand security risks, not just programmers. For any questions about your own devices, always refer to official Apple support pages.*

Timeline

Published on: 11/01/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/03/2022 03:52:00 UTC