CVE-2022-26768: Apple watchOS · Out-of-bounds Write
Affects Apple watchOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High : upgrade to 8.6 soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 1.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 72% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 8.6
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 May 2022
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade Apple watchOS to 8.6.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Apple watchOS | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
European organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the patched versions: watchOS 8.6 or later, macOS Monterey 12.4 or later, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6 or later, and tvOS 15.5 or later. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies on Apple devices to prevent installation of untrusted or malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce update compliance and monitor device health. Educate users on the risks of installing unverified applications and the importance of prompt updates. Network segmentation can limit the impact of a compromised device by restricting its access to critical systems. Additionally, enable and monitor kernel-level security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous kernel activity. Regularly audit device inventories to identify and remediate unpatched devices. Since exploitation requires user interaction, phishing awareness and social engineering defenses remain critical.
Description
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213256 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213253 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213254 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT213257 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213346 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jul/12 (opens in a new tab)