CVE-2022-32910 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS systems, specifically related to the Gatekeeper security feature. Gatekeeper is designed to prevent the execution of untrusted or malicious software by verifying the source and integrity of applications before allowing them to run. This vulnerability arises from a logic flaw in the way Gatekeeper processes archive files, which could allow a specially crafted archive to bypass these security checks. As a result, malicious code contained within such an archive could be executed without Gatekeeper's usual scrutiny, potentially compromising the integrity of the system. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or availability directly but poses a significant risk to system integrity by allowing unauthorized code execution. The flaw was addressed by Apple through improved validation checks and is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, macOS Monterey 12.5, and Security Update 2022-005 for Catalina. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a network attack vector with low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and a scope limited to the vulnerable component. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date, but the potential for exploitation remains given the nature of the vulnerability and the widespread use of macOS in various environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a significant risk primarily to the integrity of macOS endpoints. Organizations relying on macOS devices for critical operations could face unauthorized execution of malicious code if attackers deliver specially crafted archive files, potentially leading to further compromise such as lateral movement, data manipulation, or deployment of malware. Although confidentiality and availability impacts are not directly indicated, the integrity compromise could indirectly affect data trustworthiness and operational stability. Sectors with high reliance on macOS, including creative industries, software development, and certain government or research institutions, may be particularly vulnerable. The lack of required user interaction or privileges for exploitation increases the risk, especially in environments where users frequently handle archive files from external sources. Additionally, the bypass of Gatekeeper undermines a key macOS security control, potentially reducing overall endpoint security posture.

European organizations should prioritize patching affected macOS systems by deploying the updates macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, macOS Monterey 12.5, or Security Update 2022-005 Catalina as soon as possible. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict controls on the handling of archive files, including restricting the acceptance of archives from untrusted or unknown sources and employing advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring and blocking suspicious archive extraction or execution behaviors. User education should emphasize caution when opening archives, even if Gatekeeper warnings are absent. Network-level defenses such as sandboxing or isolating macOS devices that handle untrusted files can further reduce risk. Additionally, organizations should audit and monitor macOS Gatekeeper logs and system integrity monitoring tools to detect potential bypass attempts. Employing application allowlisting and ensuring that only signed and verified software is permitted to execute can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts.