CVE-2022-32840 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2022
This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.5, watchOS 8.7, iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows malicious applications to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges on affected Apple operating systems. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the kernel subsystems that govern system operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized administrative access to devices, effectively bypassing the fundamental security boundaries that separate user applications from the core operating system. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including macOS Monterey 12.5, watchOS 8.7, and iOS 15.6 along with iPadOS 15.6, indicating a widespread impact across the Apple ecosystem. This type of flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and could enable sophisticated attacks that compromise entire device fleets.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Apple devices are prevalent, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malicious payloads without requiring user interaction or physical access to the device. The kernel privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability places it within the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation tactic, specifically targeting techniques that allow adversaries to gain elevated system privileges.
The remediation approach implemented by Apple involved strengthening kernel-level access controls and adding additional validation checks to prevent unauthorized code execution at the system level. This fix demonstrates the importance of proper kernel security measures and input sanitization in preventing privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should immediately deploy the applicable security updates for their respective platforms, as the window for exploitation remains open until patches are applied. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for continuous security monitoring and timely patch management across all enterprise device fleets. Security teams should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious kernel activity and unauthorized application behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. The fix serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of delaying critical updates in mobile and desktop environments.