CVE-2022-32857 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and related operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The vulnerability arises from the transmission of certain user activity information over the network without proper encryption, specifically lacking HTTPS protection. This allows an attacker positioned in a privileged network role—such as a network administrator, ISP, or an adversary controlling a network segment—to monitor and track user activity by intercepting unencrypted data. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication, and it impacts confidentiality by exposing user activity data. The issue was addressed by Apple through the implementation of HTTPS for transmitting this information, thereby encrypting the data in transit and preventing eavesdropping. The fix was incorporated in macOS Monterey 12.5, macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, Security Update 2022-005 Catalina, and corresponding updates for iOS 15.6, iPadOS 15.6, tvOS 15.6, and watchOS 8.7. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the limited impact on confidentiality and the requirement for an attacker to be in a privileged network position. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-319, which relates to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, and the scope is limited to information disclosure of user activity data over the network. The affected versions are unspecified but include versions prior to the patched releases mentioned.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-32857 is the potential exposure of user activity data to attackers with privileged network access. This could include internal threat actors, malicious insiders, or external attackers who have compromised network infrastructure. The confidentiality breach could lead to privacy violations, surveillance, or profiling of users, which is particularly sensitive under the GDPR framework prevalent in Europe. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, the leakage of user activity data could facilitate further targeted attacks or espionage, especially in sectors handling sensitive or regulated information such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. Organizations relying on Apple devices for their workforce or customer-facing services may face increased risk if network security controls are insufficient. The vulnerability underscores the importance of encrypted communications and network monitoring to detect unauthorized interception attempts. Given the medium severity and lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate but should not be underestimated in environments with high privacy and security requirements.

European organizations should ensure that all Apple devices are updated promptly to the patched versions: macOS Monterey 12.5 or later, macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 or later, Security Update 2022-005 Catalina, and corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict network segmentation and monitoring to limit privileged network access to trusted personnel and systems only. Deploying network encryption protocols such as VPNs or enforcing HTTPS/TLS for all internal and external communications can further reduce exposure. Regular network traffic analysis and anomaly detection can help identify suspicious interception attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and enforce policies around device usage on corporate networks, ensuring that devices are compliant with security standards. Employee training on the risks of network-based attacks and the importance of timely updates can enhance overall security posture. For highly sensitive environments, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that can detect unusual network activity related to Apple devices. Finally, maintaining an inventory of Apple devices and their OS versions will aid in compliance and vulnerability management.