CVE-2022-42800 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and related operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. The vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges (low complexity) and no user interaction to cause unexpected application termination or potentially execute arbitrary code. The root cause relates to insufficient input validation (CWE-20) within the affected Apple operating systems, which could be exploited by a user to manipulate application behavior. This flaw impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as arbitrary code execution could lead to full system compromise or data exposure. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions, including macOS Ventura 13, Monterey 12.6.1, Big Sur 11.7.1, iOS 15.7.1 and later, and watchOS 9.1. Apple addressed the issue by implementing improved input validation checks in these updates. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity due to the potential for local privilege exploitation without user interaction, and the broad impact on system security. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a significant risk if left unpatched, especially in environments with multiple users or shared systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access but no elevated privileges or user interaction, increasing the risk in multi-user or shared device scenarios. The flaw's presence in widely used Apple operating systems means that any organization relying on macOS or Apple mobile devices is potentially exposed until patches are applied.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-42800 can be substantial, particularly for enterprises and government entities that utilize Apple hardware and software extensively. The ability for a local user to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes can lead to unauthorized data access, disruption of critical business applications, and potential lateral movement within networks. This is especially concerning for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, healthcare, and public administration. The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or attackers who gain local access through other means (e.g., physical access, compromised user accounts). The lack of required user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained. Additionally, the vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions, including those still widely deployed in corporate environments, increasing the attack surface. The potential for arbitrary code execution threatens confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information and systems. Given the increasing adoption of Apple devices in European workplaces, this vulnerability poses a risk to operational continuity and data protection compliance under regulations like GDPR.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the security updates released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13, Monterey 12.6.1, Big Sur 11.7.1, iOS 15.7.1 and later, and watchOS 9.1 to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict local access controls to limit the number of users with physical or remote local access to Apple devices. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for abnormal application terminations or suspicious code execution on macOS and iOS devices. Enforce the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of exploitation by limiting user permissions. Conduct regular audits of device configurations and installed software versions to ensure compliance with patch management policies. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the risks of unauthorized local access and implement device encryption and strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized physical or network access. For environments with shared Apple devices, consider session isolation and user activity monitoring to detect potential misuse. Finally, maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for handling exploitation attempts on Apple platforms.