CVE-2022-42815 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS systems prior to the Ventura 13 release. The vulnerability allows an application to potentially access user-sensitive data without proper authorization. This issue stems from insufficient data protection mechanisms within the operating system, which could be exploited by a local attacker or a malicious app to read sensitive information. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information). Apple addressed this issue by improving data protection in macOS Ventura 13. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and the affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions before Ventura 13. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges but does require user interaction, such as running or installing a malicious app. The primary risk is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data, which could include personal files, credentials, or other private information stored on the device.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive data on macOS devices. Organizations with employees or systems running vulnerable macOS versions could face data leakage if malicious apps are introduced, either intentionally or via social engineering. This could compromise personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Sectors with high privacy requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government are particularly at risk. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, the exposure of sensitive data could facilitate further attacks such as identity theft, corporate espionage, or targeted phishing campaigns. Since exploitation requires user interaction, the threat vector often involves social engineering or malicious software delivery. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks, especially as threat actors develop new techniques to bypass user interaction requirements.

1. Upgrade all macOS devices to macOS Ventura 13 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Implement strict application control policies using Apple’s Endpoint Security Framework or Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications. 3. Educate users on the risks of running unknown or suspicious applications and enforce policies to minimize user interaction with untrusted software. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring for anomalous app behaviors that attempt to access sensitive data. 5. Use data encryption and access controls on sensitive files to add an additional layer of protection even if an app attempts unauthorized access. 6. Regularly audit installed applications and system logs for signs of suspicious activity. 7. For organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, enforce minimum OS version requirements and security baselines to reduce exposure. 8. Monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability to enable rapid response.