CVE-2022-45872 is a critical vulnerability affecting iTerm2, a popular terminal emulator for macOS, specifically versions before 3.4.18. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the DECRQSS (Device Control Request Status String) response, a control sequence used in terminal emulation to query the status of terminal modes. Mishandling this response can lead to severe consequences including arbitrary code execution, denial of service, or other impacts affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the high severity, with an attack vector that is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality (C:H), integrity (I:H), and availability (A:H) is high. The CWE-20 classification indicates that the root cause is improper input validation, which allows crafted terminal sequences to exploit the vulnerability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and critical impact make this a significant threat. The lack of vendor and product details in the provided data is likely due to the vulnerability being specific to iTerm2, which is an open-source macOS terminal emulator rather than a commercial product with a vendor. The absence of patch links suggests that users should verify their iTerm2 version and update to 3.4.18 or later to mitigate this issue.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-45872 can be substantial, especially for those relying on macOS environments and using iTerm2 as a terminal emulator for development, system administration, or operational tasks. Exploitation could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code without authentication or user interaction, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in data breaches, disruption of critical services, and loss of sensitive information. Organizations in sectors such as finance, technology, research, and government, which often use macOS workstations, could face operational downtime and reputational damage. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a pivot point within internal networks to escalate privileges or move laterally, increasing the attack surface. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, the threat poses a risk to compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR, especially if personal or sensitive data is exposed or compromised.

1. Immediate verification of iTerm2 versions in use across all macOS endpoints is essential. Ensure all instances are updated to version 3.4.18 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Implement endpoint management solutions that can enforce software version compliance and automate updates for macOS applications including iTerm2. 3. Restrict network access to macOS systems running iTerm2 from untrusted networks to reduce exposure to remote exploitation. 4. Monitor terminal emulator usage patterns and logs for unusual or unexpected DECRQSS sequences or other anomalous terminal control sequences that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Educate system administrators and developers about the risks associated with terminal emulators and encourage the use of alternative secure terminal clients if immediate patching is not feasible. 6. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques on macOS endpoints to limit the potential impact of arbitrary code execution. 7. Integrate vulnerability scanning tools that can detect outdated iTerm2 versions and flag non-compliant systems for remediation. 8. Coordinate with security teams to include this vulnerability in threat hunting and incident response playbooks, focusing on macOS environments.