CVE-2022-42861 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and related operating systems including iOS and iPadOS. The vulnerability allows a malicious application to break out of its sandbox environment, which is a critical security boundary designed to isolate apps and restrict their access to system resources and user data. By escaping the sandbox, an attacker-controlled app can potentially gain elevated privileges and access to sensitive system components or user information that should otherwise be inaccessible. The vulnerability stems from insufficient or flawed enforcement of sandbox restrictions, which Apple addressed through improved checks in macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and earlier patch releases for iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), with an attack vector of local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the potential for privilege escalation and system compromise is significant. The underlying weakness is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the sandbox enforcement mechanisms failed to adequately restrict app capabilities. This vulnerability is particularly critical because sandboxing is a fundamental security feature in Apple’s ecosystem, designed to prevent malicious apps from affecting system integrity or accessing private data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, persistence mechanisms, or further exploitation chains.

For European organizations using Apple macOS and iOS devices, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to endpoint security. Organizations relying on Apple hardware for sensitive operations, including government agencies, financial institutions, and enterprises handling personal or confidential data, could face unauthorized data exposure or system compromise if a malicious app is installed. The ability to break out of the sandbox undermines the core security model of Apple devices, potentially allowing attackers to bypass restrictions and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This could lead to data breaches, espionage, or disruption of critical services. The impact is heightened in environments where device management policies are less restrictive or where users have the ability to install third-party applications without stringent controls. Additionally, since the vulnerability requires only local access and low privileges, an attacker who gains initial foothold (e.g., via phishing or social engineering) could escalate privileges and move laterally within the network. The lack of required user interaction further increases the risk of silent exploitation. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in European corporate and public sectors, the vulnerability could have broad implications if left unpatched.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the official patches released by Apple for macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and the respective earlier versions. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies using Apple’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict app installations to trusted sources only, minimizing the risk of malicious apps gaining initial access. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools that monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of sandbox escape attempts can provide early detection. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit lateral movement from compromised devices. Regular audits of installed applications and privilege levels can help identify unauthorized software or privilege escalations. User training focused on the risks of installing untrusted applications and recognizing phishing attempts can reduce the likelihood of initial compromise. Additionally, organizations should review and tighten sandbox configurations and system integrity protections where possible, leveraging Apple’s security frameworks to enforce strict access controls. Finally, maintaining up-to-date backups and incident response plans tailored to Apple environments will aid in rapid recovery if exploitation occurs.