CVE-2022-32936 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically addressed in macOS Ventura 13. The vulnerability stems from an out-of-bounds read condition in the kernel, which allows a malicious application to disclose kernel memory contents. This is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), indicating that the application can read memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries due to insufficient input validation. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), meaning an attacker must convince a user to run a malicious app. The attack vector is local (AV:L), so the attacker must have local access to the system. The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), as kernel memory disclosure can reveal sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or other protected data. There is no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability was fixed by Apple through improved input validation in macOS Ventura 13. No known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level due to the combination of local attack vector, no privileges required, and high confidentiality impact but limited scope and user interaction requirement.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive data on macOS systems. Organizations using macOS devices, especially those with sensitive or classified information, could face data leakage if an attacker convinces a user to run a malicious application locally. This could lead to exposure of credentials, encryption keys, or other sensitive kernel memory contents. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, targeted attacks such as spear-phishing or insider threats could leverage this vulnerability. The impact is more significant in sectors with high data sensitivity such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Since macOS is widely used in certain professional environments in Europe, the risk is non-negligible. However, the lack of known exploits in the wild and the availability of patches reduce the immediate threat level.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to macOS Ventura 13 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Implement strict application control policies to prevent unauthorized or untrusted applications from running, reducing the risk of malicious app execution. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local activity and application behavior. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted software and the importance of verifying application sources. Use network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit local access to macOS systems. Regularly audit and monitor macOS endpoints for signs of compromise or unusual activity. For environments with high security requirements, consider restricting macOS usage or enforcing additional security controls such as mandatory code signing and system integrity protection features.