CVE-2023-42931 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an unprivileged process to escalate its privileges to administrative level without undergoing proper authentication. The root cause is an authentication bypass due to inadequate verification mechanisms, categorized under CWE-280 (Improper Authentication). This flaw affects multiple macOS versions before the patched releases: Ventura 13.6.3, Sonoma 14.2, and Monterey 12.7.2. The vulnerability enables an attacker who can execute code on the system and induce user interaction to gain admin rights, thereby compromising system confidentiality and integrity. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.3 reflects the network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), while the impact on confidentiality and integrity is high (C:H/I:H) and availability is low (A:L). Although no public exploits have been reported, the potential for privilege escalation makes this a critical concern for macOS users. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through improved authentication checks in the specified macOS updates. Organizations running vulnerable macOS versions should apply these patches promptly to mitigate risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat as it allows attackers to gain administrative privileges on macOS systems without proper authentication. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of critical files, and potential deployment of further malware or ransomware. The confidentiality and integrity of organizational data are at high risk, especially in sectors relying on macOS for critical operations such as finance, healthcare, and government. Although availability impact is limited, the ability to escalate privileges can facilitate persistent footholds and lateral movement within networks. The requirement for user interaction slightly reduces the risk but does not eliminate it, as social engineering or phishing could trigger exploitation. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using macOS devices are particularly vulnerable. Failure to patch promptly could result in targeted attacks exploiting this flaw, potentially affecting compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple: macOS Ventura 13.6.3, Sonoma 14.2, and Monterey 12.7.2 or later. 2. Enforce strict endpoint management policies to ensure all macOS devices are updated and monitored. 3. Limit user privileges by enforcing the principle of least privilege, restricting administrative rights to only necessary personnel. 4. Implement robust user awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could trigger user interaction required for exploitation. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts. 6. Regularly audit macOS systems for unauthorized administrative accounts or unexpected privilege changes. 7. Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of compromised macOS devices on critical infrastructure. 8. Monitor logs for signs of exploitation attempts, especially those involving privilege escalation or authentication bypass. 9. Consider deploying application control or whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized code. 10. Maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for macOS-specific vulnerabilities and privilege escalation incidents.