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CVE-2022-32788VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2022-32788: Apple macOS · A remote user may be able to cause kernel code execution

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in 8.7 : patch Apple macOS as a priority.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
9.8Critical
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
2.8% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 86% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 8.7
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 20 Sep 2022

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 2026-10-26.

What to do

AI-suggested

European organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the security updates released by Apple, specifically macOS Monterey 12.5 and the corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network-level protections such as strict firewall rules to limit exposure of Apple devices to untrusted networks, especially blocking unnecessary inbound connections. Employing network intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with updated signatures can help detect exploitation attempts. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions should be tuned to monitor for anomalous kernel-level activity indicative of exploitation. Organizations should enforce strict device management policies using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to ensure timely patch deployment and compliance. Additionally, network segmentation can limit the spread of an attacker who gains initial access. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focusing on Apple device security posture are recommended. Finally, user awareness training should emphasize the importance of applying updates promptly, even though no user interaction is required for exploitation.

Description

A buffer overflow was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in watchOS 8.7, tvOS 15.6, iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6, macOS Monterey 12.5. A remote user may be able to cause kernel code execution.

References

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