CVE-2022-26765 is a vulnerability identified in Apple's watchOS, as well as related operating systems including tvOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, iOS 15.5, and iPadOS 15.5. The vulnerability stems from a race condition that affects the Pointer Authentication mechanism, a security feature designed to protect against memory corruption attacks by cryptographically signing pointers. The race condition allows a malicious attacker who already has arbitrary read and write capabilities on the affected system to bypass Pointer Authentication, potentially enabling them to manipulate memory pointers without detection. This could lead to unauthorized code execution or privilege escalation. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved state handling in watchOS 8.6 and the corresponding OS updates. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.7 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact primarily affects integrity (I:H) with no direct confidentiality or availability impact. No known exploits are currently in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-362 (Race Condition).

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-26765 depends largely on the deployment of Apple devices, particularly Apple Watches and other affected Apple platforms. Organizations that utilize Apple Watch devices for employee productivity, health monitoring, or security purposes could face risks if attackers gain local access to these devices. The ability to bypass Pointer Authentication could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges on the device, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data or internal networks if the device is used as a trusted endpoint. However, the requirement for local access and the high complexity of exploitation reduce the likelihood of widespread attacks. Still, sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure in Europe should be vigilant, as attackers may attempt to leverage this vulnerability in targeted attacks. The vulnerability also affects other Apple platforms, which may be more widely used in enterprise environments, increasing the overall risk profile.

European organizations should ensure that all Apple devices, including Apple Watches, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs, are updated promptly to the patched OS versions: watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, iOS 15.5, and iPadOS 15.5 or later. Given the requirement for local access and arbitrary read/write capabilities, organizations should enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized device access. Implementing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions can help enforce timely updates and monitor device compliance. Additionally, organizations should restrict the installation of untrusted applications and monitor for unusual device behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. Employee awareness training about the risks of device theft or unauthorized access can further reduce exposure. For high-security environments, consider limiting the use of Apple Watches or other vulnerable devices where possible until patches are applied.