CVE-2022-26770: Apple Security Update – Catalina · A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Affects Apple Security Update – CatalinaSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 1.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 65% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
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 2026-10-25.
What to do
AI-suggested
European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond simply applying the available patches. First and foremost, ensure that all Apple devices are updated to the latest security patches, specifically Security Update 2022-004 for Catalina, macOS Monterey 12.4, and Big Sur 11.6.6 or later. Enforce strict application control policies using tools like Apple’s Gatekeeper and System Integrity Protection (SIP) to prevent unauthorized or unsigned applications from executing. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and implement phishing awareness training to reduce the likelihood of social engineering attacks that could trigger exploitation. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring kernel-level activities to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Limit the use of administrative privileges and implement the principle of least privilege to reduce the potential impact of a compromised account. Additionally, conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on macOS devices to ensure compliance and identify any unpatched systems. For organizations with critical infrastructure, consider network segmentation to isolate Apple devices and restrict their access to sensitive systems and data.
Description
An out-of-bounds read issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in Security Update 2022-004 Catalina, macOS Monterey 12.4, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.