CVE-2022-32797 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2022
This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in Security Update 2022-005 Catalina, macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, macOS Monterey 12.5. Processing a maliciously crafted AppleScript binary may result in unexpected termination or disclosure of process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue in Apple's macOS operating system that could potentially enable arbitrary code execution or information disclosure through maliciously crafted AppleScript binaries. The flaw exists within the AppleScript interpreter and process handling mechanisms, specifically when processing certain binary AppleScript files that contain malformed or crafted payloads. The vulnerability was addressed through security update 2022-005, which implemented enhanced validation checks to prevent the exploitation of this memory handling weakness. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that are commonly classified as CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read or CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write depending on the specific exploitation vector. The issue demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or memory management flaw that could be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious code or extract sensitive information from process memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation or local code execution, as it could potentially allow attackers to bypass security controls and access sensitive system information. When a user executes or processes a malicious AppleScript binary, the system's AppleScript interpreter fails to properly validate input data, leading to unexpected termination of processes or unintended memory disclosure. This behavior creates opportunities for attackers to perform information gathering operations or potentially escalate privileges through memory corruption techniques. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions including Catalina 10.15.7, Big Sur 11.6.8, and Monterey 12.5, indicating a widespread exposure across Apple's operating system ecosystem. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 AppleScript, where adversaries leverage legitimate AppleScript functionality to execute malicious code or gather system information.
Security researchers identified that the root cause stems from insufficient input validation within the AppleScript binary processing pipeline, where the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the structure and content of AppleScript binary files before execution. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing phase when the system attempts to interpret binary AppleScript data structures, leading to improper memory handling that could be exploited through carefully crafted payloads. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because AppleScript is a legitimate system component that users often interact with through various applications and system utilities, making the attack surface broader than typical memory corruption vulnerabilities. The fix implemented by Apple involved strengthening input validation mechanisms and adding additional memory safety checks that prevent the exploitation of malformed binary AppleScript files. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the Security Update 2022-005 across all affected macOS systems to mitigate potential exploitation risks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in system-level components, particularly those that handle user-provided data through interpreted scripting languages. This case study highlights the ongoing challenge of securing scripting environments within operating systems and the necessity of continuous security updates to address emerging threats in complex software ecosystems.