CVE-2022-32882 is a critical vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically versions prior to macOS Monterey 12.4 and macOS Big Sur 11.6.6. The vulnerability allows a malicious application to bypass the Privacy preferences implemented by Apple to protect user data and system resources. Privacy preferences in macOS are designed to restrict app access to sensitive data such as location, contacts, camera, microphone, and other protected resources. By circumventing these controls, an attacker can gain unauthorized access to confidential information and system capabilities without user consent or notification. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reveals that the attack can be executed remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree. Apple addressed this issue by implementing improved checks in the affected macOS versions, thereby closing the bypass loophole. No known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date, but the high severity and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat if weaponized. This vulnerability poses a serious risk to macOS users and organizations relying on Apple devices, as it undermines the fundamental privacy protections of the operating system.

For European organizations, this vulnerability represents a substantial risk to data privacy and security compliance, particularly under regulations such as the GDPR that mandate strict controls over personal data access. Unauthorized bypass of privacy preferences could lead to exposure of sensitive personal and corporate data, including confidential communications, location data, and biometric inputs. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, and loss of customer trust. The ability to execute the exploit without user interaction or privileges means that even standard user accounts or automated processes could be compromised, increasing the attack surface. Organizations using macOS devices in critical infrastructure, finance, healthcare, or government sectors are especially vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of their data and the potential for cascading impacts on service availability and integrity. Additionally, the disruption caused by such an exploit could affect business continuity and lead to regulatory penalties. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the critical severity demands immediate attention.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to at least macOS Monterey 12.4 or macOS Big Sur 11.6.6 to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies using Apple’s Endpoint Security framework or Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications. Employing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual outbound connections from macOS devices can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular audits of privacy preference settings and access logs should be conducted to identify unauthorized access. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the risks of installing unverified software and enforce least privilege principles to minimize potential damage. For high-risk environments, consider deploying additional endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying anomalous behaviors indicative of privacy bypass attempts. Finally, maintain an incident response plan tailored to macOS environments to rapidly contain and remediate any exploitation events.