# CVE-2022-22620: Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Webkit Use-After-Free

> Processing malicious web content in Safari can lead to arbitrary code execution via a use-after-free vulnerability, which has been actively exploited.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 11 Feb 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Mar 2022
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-22620, GHSA-2886-x646-53fj, MGASA-2022-0075, SUSE-SU-2022:0811-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-22620

## What is CVE-2022-22620?

CVE-2022-22620 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 18 Mar 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.2.1, iOS 15.3.1 and iPadOS 15.3.1, Safari 15.3 (v. 16612.4.9.1.8 and 15612.4.9.1.8). 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..

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-22620?

It affects 4 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-BCL | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-LTSS | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 8 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 9 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |
| `webkit2gtk3` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | All versions | 2.34.6-2.88.1 |

Products: Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Macos, Apple Safari.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-22620?

Upgrade to a fixed version. US federal agencies must fix it by 25 Feb 2022.

## Is CVE-2022-22620 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-22620 in the wild since at least 11 Feb 2022.

Public exploit code:

- Webkit (Safari) - Exploit (github_poc): https://github.com/springsec/CVE-2022-22620
- CVE-2022-22620: Use-after-free in Safari (github_poc): https://github.com/kmeps4/CVE-2022-22620

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipados

- [CVE-2025-43300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43300/): Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24201/): Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24085/): Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31200](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31200/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31201/): Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-22620 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-22620 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 18 Mar 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-22620 in the wild since at least 11 Feb 2022.

Affected product: Apple Ipados. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22620/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22620/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-22620
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22620
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-22620

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22620/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.