Update Your iPhone, iPad & Mac NOW! — CVE-2022-48503 (WebKit) Is Listed As Actively Exploited

By CyberDudeBivash • Updated Oct 22, 2025

TL;DR — Do this now

• Update your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to the latest OS release available for your device — Apple issued fixes that address CVE-2022-48503. 
• This vulnerability affects WebKit/JavaScriptCore and can lead to arbitrary code execution when web content is processed — CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. 
• If you can’t patch immediately, limit web exposure, block untrusted content, and increase monitoring for suspicious app or network behavior (guidance below).

Affected components

WebKit / JavaScriptCore (Safari engine) — affects iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS & Safari builds historically updated in 2022–2023.

Risk

Arbitrary code execution via crafted web content — high severity for devices that browse web content. 

Why urgent

CISA recently included CVE-2022-48503 in its KEV catalog — meaning it’s been observed in real exploitation campaigns. 

Which versions are fixed?

Apple addressed CVE-2022-48503 with improved bounds checks in multiple updates. The fixes were shipped as part of the iOS / iPadOS / macOS / Safari security updates (examples documented in Apple security notes). Confirm your device is on the latest OS that Apple offers for its model — the Apple security pages list the exact builds per platform. 

How to update — step by step

1. iPhone / iPad (iOS / iPadOS)
   Settings → General → Software Update → Install the latest update. If auto-update is off, enable it or install manually now. Confirm the build matches Apple’s latest security advisory for your device. 
2. Mac (macOS)
   Apple menu → System Settings (System Preferences) → General → Software Update → Update Now. For older macOS lines (Big Sur / Catalina), check Safari security updates if you manage browser-only patches. 
3. Other Apple devices
   Apply the latest tvOS / watchOS updates through their device settings or the paired phone/watch app — these platforms received corresponding fixes historically.

Can’t patch right now? Temporary mitigations

• Disable or limit untrusted web browsing on vulnerable devices (avoid unknown links, untrusted sites, and unsolicited web content).
• In managed environments (MDM), push a configuration that disables automatic image/media rendering in mail clients or blocks risky domains via DNS/Proxy.
• Restrict network egress for sensitive devices to only necessary destinations; use web proxy with content scanning / URL detonation to reduce risk of malicious pages reaching devices.

Detecting potential exploitation (for admins & SOC teams)

Because this is a WebKit engine bug, exploit activity often shows as:

• Unexpected process crashes or app terminations on Safari/WebView hosts followed by anomalous child processes. Monitor EDR / host telemetry for browser process crashes and unusual exec trees. 
• Newly installed persistence or unexpected outbound connections shortly after a browser crash. Correlate with proxy/DNS logs for first-seen domains. 
• On managed devices, review MDM logs for mass update or app config changes and verify device compliance state post-patch.

If you suspect a device was exploited

1. Isolate the device from the network (airplane mode + remove Wi-Fi / Ethernet if possible).
2. Collect forensic artifacts: system logs, crash reports, proxy/DNS logs, and EDR telemetry.
3. Reimage the device from a trusted image after collecting artifacts and rotate any credentials accessed from the device (email, VPN tokens, SSO sessions).
4. Notify exposed users and apply a heightened detection window across your estate for similar indicators.

Primary sources & advisories

• Apple security notes — macOS/iOS security content and WebKit fixes. 
• NVD / CVE entry for CVE-2022-48503 (JavaScriptCore/WebKit bounds check leading to arbitrary code execution). 
• CISA — Addition of CVE-2022-48503 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog (KEV). 
• Rapid7 & SecurityWeek coverage of active exploitation and detection guidance. 

Need help rolling this out across your org?

We provide rapid patch orchestration, MDM policy hardening, and incident triage for Apple fleets.

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