CVE-2022-32849 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the system that allowed an application to access sensitive user information without proper authorization. The issue was addressed by Apple through the removal of the vulnerable code in updates released for iOS 15.6, iPadOS 15.6, macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, macOS Monterey 12.5, and Security Update 2022-005 for Catalina. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which pertains to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with the vector indicating that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is needed (UI:R). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits in the wild have been reported. This vulnerability could allow a malicious app running on a vulnerable system to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected, potentially leading to privacy violations or further targeted attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-32849 centers on the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information on Apple devices used within the enterprise. This could include personal data, credentials, or other confidential information stored or accessible on macOS systems. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in many European corporate environments, especially in sectors like finance, technology, and government, this vulnerability could lead to privacy breaches and regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if sensitive personal data is exposed. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized data access. The lack of impact on integrity and availability limits the scope to confidentiality concerns, but the sensitivity of the data potentially exposed could still have significant reputational and operational consequences.

European organizations should ensure that all Apple devices, particularly those running macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, are promptly updated to the patched versions released by Apple (macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, Monterey 12.5, Security Update 2022-005 Catalina, iOS/iPadOS 15.6, and tvOS 15.6). Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application installation policies to limit the execution of untrusted or unsigned apps, thereby reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that monitor for unusual local app behavior can help detect attempts to access sensitive information. User training to recognize and avoid social engineering tactics that could lead to the installation or execution of malicious apps is also critical. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege on user accounts and restricting local access to sensitive systems will further reduce exploitation risk.