CVE-2022-32789 is a logic vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass the system's Privacy preferences. Privacy preferences in macOS are designed to control and restrict app access to sensitive user data and system resources, such as location services, contacts, calendars, and camera/microphone access. This vulnerability arises from insufficient or flawed checks in the enforcement of these privacy controls, enabling a malicious or compromised app to circumvent user consent requirements. The issue was addressed by Apple with improved verification mechanisms in macOS Monterey 12.5. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the system fails to adequately restrict access to protected resources. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector, the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and the affected versions are unspecified but presumably include versions prior to macOS Monterey 12.5. This vulnerability could allow unauthorized apps to access sensitive user data without explicit permission, undermining user privacy and potentially enabling further malicious activities such as data exfiltration or surveillance.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant privacy risk, especially for sectors handling sensitive personal data such as healthcare, finance, legal, and government institutions. Unauthorized access to protected data could lead to breaches of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. The confidentiality breach could expose personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property, or confidential communications. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk is heightened in environments where users may install untrusted applications or open malicious files, such as in hybrid or remote work scenarios common in Europe. Additionally, organizations relying on macOS devices for secure communications or data processing could face increased insider threat risks or targeted attacks exploiting this bypass to gain unauthorized data access. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future exploitation.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to at least macOS Monterey 12.5 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies using Apple’s Endpoint Security framework or Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications. User training should emphasize the risks of installing unknown software and the importance of scrutinizing permission requests. Implementing least privilege principles and restricting local user rights can reduce the attack surface. Regular audits of privacy preference settings and monitoring for anomalous app behavior can help detect attempts to bypass privacy controls. For high-security environments, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying suspicious local privilege escalations or access control bypass attempts. Finally, organizations should review and update their incident response plans to include scenarios involving privacy preference bypasses on macOS devices.