CVE-2022-42855 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems including macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 15.7.2, iPadOS 15.7.2, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2. The vulnerability arises from a logic flaw related to state management within the entitlement system. Entitlements in Apple operating systems are used to grant apps specific privileges or capabilities, such as access to hardware features or sensitive data. This flaw allows a malicious or compromised application to use arbitrary entitlements that it should not have, effectively elevating its privileges beyond intended limits. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as launching or interacting with the malicious app. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have the ability to run code on the device, typically by installing an app. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity with high impact (C:H/I:H), but does not affect availability (A:N). Exploitation could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information or unauthorized modification of data, potentially bypassing security controls. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved state management in entitlement handling, and patches were released in the specified OS versions. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, but the high CVSS score (7.1) and the nature of the vulnerability indicate a significant risk if exploited. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), highlighting the risk of privilege escalation due to improper entitlement validation.

For European organizations, especially those using Apple tvOS devices in corporate environments, this vulnerability poses a risk of privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Enterprises that deploy Apple devices for media distribution, digital signage, or internal communication could see these devices compromised to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to lateral movement within networks or data leakage. The confidentiality and integrity of corporate information could be at risk if malicious apps exploit this flaw to access restricted resources or manipulate data. Although the attack requires local code execution and user interaction, the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe means that targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could facilitate exploitation. Additionally, organizations in sectors with strict data protection requirements (e.g., finance, healthcare, government) could face compliance issues if sensitive data is exposed. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that immediate widespread attacks are unlikely, but the vulnerability should be treated seriously due to its potential impact and ease of exploitation once a malicious app is installed.

European organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the patched versions: tvOS 16.2, macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 15.7.2, iPadOS 15.7.2, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies, such as restricting app installations to trusted sources only (e.g., Apple App Store) and employing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor and control app permissions and entitlements. Implementing user awareness training focused on the risks of installing untrusted apps and recognizing social engineering attempts can reduce the likelihood of user interaction enabling exploitation. Network segmentation of Apple tvOS devices can limit potential lateral movement if a device is compromised. Additionally, monitoring device logs for unusual entitlement requests or privilege escalations can help detect exploitation attempts early. For environments where Apple devices are critical, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying anomalous app behavior related to privilege escalation. Finally, organizations should maintain an inventory of Apple devices and ensure timely patch management processes are in place to reduce exposure windows.