CVE-2022-32826 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability stems from an authorization issue related to improper state management, which could allow a malicious application to escalate its privileges to root level. Root privileges grant an attacker full control over the affected system, enabling them to execute arbitrary code with the highest level of permissions, modify system files, install persistent malware, or disable security controls. The vulnerability requires local access (AV:L) and low attack complexity (AC:L), but no privileges are required initially (PR:N). However, user interaction is needed (UI:R), meaning the user must run or interact with a malicious app for exploitation. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of macOS including Big Sur 11.6.8, Monterey 12.5, and Security Update 2022-005 for Catalina, as well as iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6. Apple has addressed this issue by improving state management in the authorization process. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the potential impact is significant given the ability to gain root privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), indicating a failure to properly restrict access rights. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity due to the potential for complete system compromise, high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and relatively low complexity of exploitation once user interaction occurs.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a serious risk especially for those relying on Apple macOS and related Apple operating systems in their IT environments. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that use Apple devices could face severe consequences if exploited. An attacker gaining root privileges could exfiltrate sensitive data, disrupt operations, or implant persistent malware for espionage or sabotage. The requirement for user interaction means targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trick employees into running malicious apps. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in European corporate and governmental environments, successful exploitation could lead to significant breaches of confidentiality and integrity, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as proof-of-concept exploits could emerge. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using Apple devices are particularly vulnerable due to increased exposure to malicious apps outside traditional network perimeters.

European organizations should prioritize applying the security updates released by Apple for macOS (Big Sur 11.6.8, Monterey 12.5, Catalina Security Update 2022-005) and other affected Apple OS versions as soon as possible. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to limit the installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications on Apple devices. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation. User awareness training should be enhanced to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could trigger this vulnerability. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit lateral movement if a device is compromised. Additionally, organizations should monitor Apple security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit activity related to CVE-2022-32826. Regular audits of device configurations and installed software can help identify unauthorized applications that might exploit this vulnerability.