CVE-2022-32945 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS systems, specifically related to the handling of audio recording permissions with paired AirPods devices. The vulnerability arises from an access control issue where third-party applications may bypass intended sandbox restrictions and record audio through paired AirPods without explicit user consent. This flaw is categorized under CWE-284, which involves improper access control. The issue was addressed by Apple through enhanced sandbox restrictions in macOS Ventura 13, mitigating unauthorized audio capture by limiting app capabilities. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4, reflecting a network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent, with no impact on availability. While no known exploits are reported in the wild, the potential for privacy invasion is significant, as malicious apps could covertly record audio via AirPods paired to the victim’s macOS device. This vulnerability highlights the risks associated with peripheral device integration and the importance of strict sandboxing and permission models in modern operating systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a privacy and confidentiality risk, particularly for sectors handling sensitive or classified information such as government agencies, financial institutions, legal firms, and healthcare providers. Unauthorized audio recording could lead to leakage of confidential conversations, intellectual property, or personal data, potentially violating GDPR and other privacy regulations. The risk is amplified in environments where AirPods or similar Bluetooth audio devices are commonly used with macOS systems, especially in open office spaces or remote work scenarios. Although the vulnerability requires low privileges and user interaction, the widespread use of macOS and AirPods in professional settings increases the attack surface. The integrity impact is limited but could facilitate social engineering or further exploitation by capturing sensitive information. Availability is not affected, so operational disruption is unlikely. Overall, the threat could undermine trust in device security and compliance with data protection laws if exploited.

Organizations should ensure all macOS devices are updated to macOS Ventura 13 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, implement strict application control policies using Apple’s Endpoint Security framework or Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation and execution of untrusted third-party applications. Enforce least privilege principles by limiting user permissions and disabling unnecessary Bluetooth audio device pairings in sensitive environments. Conduct regular audits of paired Bluetooth devices on corporate macOS endpoints to detect unauthorized or suspicious peripherals. Educate users about the risks of granting microphone access to applications and encourage vigilance against phishing or social engineering attempts that could lead to malicious app installation. Additionally, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring unusual audio recording activities or anomalous Bluetooth device usage. For highly sensitive environments, temporarily restricting or disabling Bluetooth audio devices may be warranted until full remediation is confirmed.