CVE-2022-42823 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems and browsers, including macOS Ventura 13, tvOS 16.1, watchOS 9.1, Safari 16.1, iOS 16.1, and iPadOS 16. The root cause is a type confusion flaw, categorized under CWE-843, which arises from improper memory handling during the processing of web content. This vulnerability allows an attacker to craft malicious web content that, when processed by a vulnerable Apple device, can lead to arbitrary code execution. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the critical nature of this flaw, with an attack vector over the network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning successful exploitation can fully compromise the affected system. The vulnerability is fixed in the latest versions of the affected Apple products, indicating that earlier versions remain vulnerable. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date, but the ease of exploitation and the potential impact make this a significant threat. The vulnerability primarily targets Apple’s web content processing components, likely within Safari or underlying system libraries handling web content rendering and scripting. This type of vulnerability can be exploited via malicious websites or embedded web content in emails or other applications that render web content, making it a plausible vector for widespread attacks if weaponized.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for those with a significant deployment of Apple devices such as macOS computers, iPhones, and iPads. The arbitrary code execution capability means attackers could gain full control over affected devices, leading to data breaches, espionage, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within corporate networks. Sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which often use Apple devices for their security and usability, could face severe operational disruptions and data loss. The requirement for user interaction (e.g., visiting a malicious website or opening a malicious email) means phishing campaigns could be a likely exploitation method, increasing the risk for organizations with less mature user awareness programs. Additionally, since the vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, organizations with mixed-device environments are at risk of cross-platform compromise. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score suggests that once exploits emerge, rapid and widespread impact is possible.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to the fixed versions (macOS Ventura 13, iOS/iPadOS 16.1, Safari 16.1, tvOS 16.1, watchOS 9.1) as soon as possible. 2. Network controls: Implement web filtering and DNS filtering to block access to known malicious sites and reduce exposure to crafted web content. 3. Email security: Enhance email gateway protections to detect and quarantine phishing emails that may contain malicious links or embedded web content exploiting this vulnerability. 4. User awareness training: Conduct targeted training to educate users about the risks of clicking unknown links or opening suspicious emails, emphasizing the importance of applying updates promptly. 5. Endpoint detection and response (EDR): Deploy or tune EDR solutions to monitor for unusual behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected code execution or memory manipulation on Apple devices. 6. Application whitelisting: Where feasible, restrict execution of unauthorized applications or scripts on Apple devices to limit the impact of arbitrary code execution. 7. Network segmentation: Isolate critical systems and sensitive data repositories to limit lateral movement if a device is compromised. 8. Incident response readiness: Prepare and test incident response plans specifically for Apple device compromises, including forensic capabilities to analyze potential exploitation.