CVE-2022-32848 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically addressed in macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 and macOS Monterey 12.5. The vulnerability arises from a logic flaw related to insufficient permission checks, which could allow a malicious application to capture the user's screen without proper authorization. This issue falls under CWE-284, indicating an authorization bypass or insufficient access control. The vulnerability requires local access (attack vector: local), does not require privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as the user running or interacting with a malicious app. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as unauthorized screen capture could expose sensitive information displayed on the screen. Integrity and availability are not directly affected. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. No known exploits in the wild have been reported so far. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through improved permission checks in the specified macOS versions, indicating that earlier versions remain vulnerable if not updated. The lack of a patch link in the provided data suggests users should rely on official Apple update mechanisms to apply the fix. Overall, this vulnerability represents a privacy and confidentiality risk, particularly for users who run untrusted or malicious applications locally on their macOS devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to confidentiality of sensitive information displayed on macOS devices. Organizations with employees using vulnerable versions of macOS could face data leakage if a malicious app is executed, potentially exposing intellectual property, personal data, or confidential communications. This is particularly concerning for sectors handling sensitive or regulated data such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government. The requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, especially via social engineering or insider threats. Since integrity and availability are not impacted, the primary concern is unauthorized data disclosure. Organizations relying on macOS endpoints should be aware that this vulnerability could be exploited to bypass screen capture permissions, undermining endpoint security policies and privacy controls.

European organizations should ensure all macOS devices are updated to at least macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 or macOS Monterey 12.5 to apply the fix. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, limiting installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications. Endpoint security solutions should be configured to detect and block suspicious screen capture activities. User awareness training is critical to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could trick users into running malicious apps. Additionally, organizations should audit and restrict screen recording and capture permissions in system privacy settings, ensuring only trusted applications have access. Monitoring for unusual screen capture attempts and integrating macOS security logs into centralized SIEM solutions can help detect exploitation attempts. For high-risk environments, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of behavioral analysis to identify anomalous screen capture behaviors.