CVE-2022-42820 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability affecting Apple macOS, specifically addressed in macOS Ventura 13, iOS 16.1, and iPadOS 16. The vulnerability stems from improper state management leading to memory corruption, categorized under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious app that, when executed, may cause unexpected termination of legitimate applications or enable arbitrary code execution. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects a high impact with local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means that successful exploitation could allow an attacker to fully compromise the affected system’s security properties. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability’s nature and impact make it a significant risk, especially in environments where untrusted or third-party apps may be installed. The vulnerability’s fix involves improved state management to prevent memory corruption, highlighting that the root cause was likely related to improper handling of memory buffers or state transitions within the OS or app runtime environment. Given the affected platforms include macOS Ventura 13, the vulnerability is relevant to desktop and laptop Apple devices running this OS version or earlier unpatched versions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-42820 can be substantial, particularly for sectors heavily reliant on Apple macOS devices such as creative industries, software development, finance, and government agencies. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, potentially allowing attackers to deploy malware, steal sensitive data, or disrupt critical business applications. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be leveraged to trigger the exploit, increasing risk in environments with less stringent user awareness. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact means that data breaches, system compromises, and operational disruptions are plausible outcomes. Organizations using macOS in mixed-OS environments may face challenges in incident response and containment if attackers leverage this vulnerability to pivot or escalate privileges. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild does not preclude rapid weaponization, so proactive patching and mitigation are critical to prevent potential targeted attacks or widespread exploitation.

1. Immediate deployment of the official patches provided by Apple for macOS Ventura 13, iOS 16.1, and iPadOS 16 is the primary mitigation step. Ensure all Apple devices in the organization are updated promptly. 2. Implement application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Enhance user awareness training focusing on phishing and social engineering tactics, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous app crashes or suspicious code execution patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Conduct regular audits of installed software and remove unnecessary or legacy applications that may increase the attack surface. 6. Use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper to limit unauthorized code execution. 7. Network segmentation and strict access controls can limit lateral movement if a device is compromised. 8. Monitor vendor security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit reports or indicators of compromise related to CVE-2022-42820.