CVE-2022-42811 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems including tvOS 16.1, iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura 13, and watchOS 9.1. The vulnerability arises from an access control issue where an application may bypass sandbox restrictions and gain unauthorized access to user-sensitive data. The root cause is related to insufficient enforcement of sandbox policies (CWE-284: Improper Access Control), allowing an app to access data it should not have permission to access. Exploitation requires local access (Attack Vector: Local), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary (e.g., the user running or installing the malicious app). The scope is unchanged, meaning the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component without propagating to other components. The impact is high on confidentiality, as sensitive user data can be exposed, but there is no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. Apple has addressed this issue by implementing additional sandbox restrictions in the specified OS versions. However, affected versions prior to these patches remain vulnerable. The vulnerability highlights the risk of malicious or compromised applications on Apple platforms circumventing sandbox protections to access private user data, which could include personal files, credentials, or other sensitive information stored or accessible on the device.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive data on Apple devices used within corporate environments. Organizations relying on macOS and other Apple platforms for business operations, especially those handling personal data under GDPR, could face data breaches if malicious apps exploit this vulnerability. The exposure of sensitive data could lead to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Sectors with high usage of Apple devices, such as creative industries, finance, and government agencies, may be particularly impacted. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat vector often involves social engineering or insider threats. The vulnerability could also be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value individuals or organizations in Europe, potentially compromising confidential communications or intellectual property. While no active exploits are known, the medium severity and high confidentiality impact warrant proactive mitigation to prevent data leakage and comply with data protection regulations.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation measures beyond generic patching advice: 1) Ensure all Apple devices are updated promptly to macOS Ventura 13 or later and corresponding patched versions of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS to apply the sandbox restriction fixes. 2) Enforce strict application installation policies using Apple’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation to trusted and vetted apps only, minimizing the risk of malicious apps gaining local access. 3) Utilize endpoint security solutions capable of monitoring and restricting app behaviors that attempt to access sensitive data outside their sandbox. 4) Conduct user awareness training focused on the risks of installing untrusted applications and recognizing social engineering attempts that could lead to exploitation. 5) Implement strong access controls and device encryption to limit the impact of any unauthorized data access. 6) Regularly audit installed applications and their permissions on corporate Apple devices to detect anomalies. 7) For highly sensitive environments, consider application whitelisting and enhanced sandboxing policies where feasible. These measures collectively reduce the attack surface and likelihood of exploitation.