CVE-2022-32861VulnerabilityPublished 20 Sep 2022Updated 27 May 2025

CVE-2022-32861: Apple macOS · A user may be tracked through their IP address

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.3 Medium · fixed in 15.6 : update Apple macOS when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 07:57 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

5.3Medium

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 50% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch: Available – fixed in 15.6

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: Low
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Network: The vulnerable component is bound to the network stack and the set of possible attackers extends beyond the other options listed, up to and including the entire Internet. Such a vulnerability is often termed 'remotely exploitable' and can be thought of as an attack being exploitable at the protocol level one or more network hops away (e.g., across one or more routers).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: None: The vulnerable system can be exploited without any interaction from any user.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: Low: There is some loss of confidentiality. Access to some restricted information is obtained, but the attacker does not have control over what information is obtained, or the amount or kind of loss is limited. The information disclosure does not cause a direct, serious loss to the impacted component.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 20 Sep 2022
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

AI-suggested

European organizations should ensure that all Apple devices and Safari browsers are updated to macOS Monterey 12.5 and Safari 15.6 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Network administrators should monitor network traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate tracking attempts. Employing VPNs or anonymizing proxies can help mask IP addresses and reduce exposure. Organizations should review and enforce strict privacy policies and educate users about the importance of applying security updates promptly. Additionally, deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that can detect anomalous network behavior related to tracking attempts may provide early warning. For environments where Apple devices are critical, consider implementing network segmentation and limiting unnecessary external connectivity to reduce the attack surface.

Description

A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in Safari 15.6, macOS Monterey 12.5. A user may be tracked through their IP address.

Impact

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily poses a privacy risk rather than a direct threat to system integrity or availability. Organizations handling sensitive user data or operating in privacy-sensitive sectors (e.g., healthcare, finance, legal) could face regulatory scrutiny if user IP addresses are exposed or tracked without consent, potentially violating GDPR requirements. Additionally, attackers could use this vulnerability to profile users, track their browsing habits, or correlate activity across sessions, undermining user anonymity and privacy. While the technical impact is limited, the reputational damage and compliance risks could be significant, especially for companies providing services to European citizens. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as part of a broader reconnaissance or targeted tracking campaign by threat actors focusing on high-value targets within Europe.

References

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 6 Jul 2025, 02:26 UTC

Technical details

References

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