CVE-2022-46689 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and related operating systems including tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. The vulnerability arises from a race condition, a type of concurrency issue where the timing of actions can lead to unexpected behavior. Specifically, this race condition allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Kernel privileges represent the highest level of access in the operating system, enabling full control over the system, including the ability to bypass security mechanisms, manipulate system processes, and access sensitive data. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through additional validation checks to prevent the race condition from being exploited. The affected versions include macOS Monterey 12.6.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, macOS Big Sur 11.7.2, and corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the published date. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-362 (Race Condition), which is a common concurrency flaw that can lead to privilege escalation if not properly mitigated. This vulnerability is critical because it allows an unprivileged app to escalate privileges to kernel level, potentially compromising the entire system.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on Apple hardware and software ecosystems. The ability for an unprivileged app to execute code with kernel privileges can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and disruption of critical services. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often use macOS devices for sensitive operations, could face severe confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or social engineering attacks could trigger exploitation. The high impact on confidentiality means sensitive corporate data and intellectual property could be exposed. Integrity impacts could allow attackers to alter system files or logs, hindering forensic investigations. Availability impacts could result in system crashes or denial of service, affecting business continuity. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in European enterprises and public sector organizations, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or advanced persistent threat (APT) campaigns. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as proof-of-concept exploits could emerge.

European organizations should prioritize patching affected Apple operating systems to the versions specified by Apple (macOS Monterey 12.6.2, Ventura 13.1, Big Sur 11.7.2, and corresponding iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS updates). Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to limit the installation and execution of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the vulnerability. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual kernel-level activity or privilege escalation attempts. User education is critical to reduce the risk of social engineering that could lead to the required user interaction for exploitation. Restrict local access to macOS devices, especially in shared or public environments, and enforce strong physical security controls. Regularly audit installed applications and running processes to detect unauthorized software. For high-security environments, consider deploying macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Security Framework to limit kernel-level modifications. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises.