CVE-2022-32790 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2022
This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in tvOS 15.5, watchOS 8.6, iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6, Security Update 2022-004 Catalina. A remote user may be able to cause a denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
This vulnerability represents a denial-of-service condition that affects multiple Apple operating systems including tvOS, watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions prior to the specified security updates. The issue was resolved through enhanced validation mechanisms implemented by Apple in their security patches released in version 15.5 for mobile platforms and version 12.4 for Monterey, with corresponding updates for Big Sur and Catalina. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation or state management within the affected systems, potentially allowing unauthorized remote actors to disrupt normal system operations without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the system's ability to properly handle specific inputs or requests that trigger abnormal behavior patterns in the operating system's core processes. This type of vulnerability typically involves improper state transitions or resource handling that can be exploited by sending crafted payloads over network connections to the affected devices. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, indicating both validation deficiencies and potential resource exhaustion scenarios. Attackers could leverage this weakness to force system crashes, restarts, or complete service unavailability across affected platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect user productivity and device reliability across Apple's ecosystem. Mobile devices running affected versions could experience unexpected reboots or application failures, while desktop systems might face complete system hangs or restarts. The remote nature of the exploit means that adversaries could target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local network presence. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple devices may be simultaneously at risk, potentially leading to widespread service interruptions and productivity losses.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security updates across all affected systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure timely application of security fixes across their entire device inventory. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to provide additional layers of defense. The remediation process should include verification of patch installation through system inventory management tools, ensuring that all devices have been successfully updated to the patched versions. Additionally, administrators should review system logs for any evidence of attempted exploitation prior to patch deployment, and consider implementing temporary network segmentation measures to limit potential attack surface while patches are being deployed.