CVE-2022-32818 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically addressed in macOS Monterey 12.5. The vulnerability arises from improper memory handling within the kernel, which may allow a malicious application to leak sensitive kernel state information. This leakage pertains to confidentiality rather than integrity or availability, meaning that an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information residing in the kernel memory space. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), indicating that the attacker must convince a user to run a malicious app. The attack vector is local (AV:L), so the attacker must have local access to the system. The CVSS score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity, primarily due to the high confidentiality impact but limited scope and exploitation complexity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information), highlighting that the flaw allows unauthorized disclosure of information. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and Apple has mitigated the issue through improved memory handling in the kernel in the 12.5 update. Since the affected versions are unspecified, it is prudent to assume that all macOS versions prior to 12.5 may be vulnerable. This vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a larger attack chain, for example, to gather kernel memory information useful for privilege escalation or bypassing security mechanisms.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-32818 depends largely on the prevalence of macOS devices within their environment. Organizations that rely on macOS endpoints, such as creative industries, software development firms, and certain corporate sectors, could face confidentiality risks if attackers exploit this vulnerability to leak sensitive kernel information. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, leaked kernel state information could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation or bypassing security controls, potentially leading to more severe breaches. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits the risk to some extent; however, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could induce users to run malicious apps. In regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, or government within Europe, any unauthorized disclosure of sensitive system information could have compliance and reputational consequences. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies that include macOS devices may be at increased risk if devices are not updated promptly. Overall, the vulnerability represents a moderate threat vector that could be exploited in targeted attacks against European organizations with macOS usage.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to version 12.5 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to prevent the execution of unauthorized or untrusted applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious local application behavior and unusual kernel memory access patterns. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of running untrusted applications, especially those received via email or external sources, to mitigate the user interaction requirement. Network segmentation can limit the spread or impact of compromised devices. For environments with high security requirements, consider restricting local user privileges and employing macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Apple’s notarization requirements for apps. Regular audits of macOS device compliance and vulnerability scanning can help identify unpatched systems. Finally, organizations should monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits related to this CVE to respond promptly.