CVE-2022-42834 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2023
An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.3, macOS Ventura 13, macOS Big Sur 11.7.3. An app may be able to access mail folder attachments through a temporary directory used during compression
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2024
This vulnerability represents a privilege escalation issue affecting Apple's macOS operating systems where an application could potentially access mail folder attachments through improper temporary directory handling during compression operations. The flaw stems from inadequate access controls that allow unauthorized applications to traverse temporary file storage areas where compressed mail data is processed. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems running macOS Big Sur 11.7.2 and earlier versions, as well as macOS Monterey 12.6.2 and earlier versions, with the issue being resolved through updates to macOS Ventura 13, macOS Monterey 12.6.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.7.3. The technical implementation involves a temporary directory mechanism that fails to properly enforce access restrictions, creating a pathway for malicious applications to access sensitive email data that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure as it enables potential information disclosure through unauthorized access to email attachments stored in temporary compression directories. Attackers could leverage this flaw to access confidential email communications, potentially including sensitive business data, personal information, or proprietary materials that are processed through the affected compression functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to restricted resources. This weakness creates a persistent security gap where temporary file handling does not properly implement the principle of least privilege, allowing applications to access data they should not be permitted to access during normal system operations.
Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability demonstrates poor temporary file management practices within the macOS mail processing pipeline, where the system fails to properly isolate temporary storage areas from unauthorized access. The issue reflects a broader concern in operating system design where temporary file handling mechanisms do not adequately implement access controls that would normally be enforced by the system's security model. Organizations using affected macOS versions face increased risk of data breaches through this indirect access vector, particularly in environments where email systems contain sensitive information. The remediation through system updates addresses the root cause by implementing stricter access controls for temporary directories used during compression operations, ensuring that only authorized processes can access these temporary storage areas.
The mitigation strategy requires immediate deployment of the security patches released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13, macOS Monterey 12.6.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.7.3, as these updates implement proper access restriction mechanisms for temporary file handling during mail compression. System administrators should prioritize patching across all affected systems to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability does not require user interaction to be exploited. This issue also highlights the importance of proper temporary file handling in application security, where the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to temporary directories and consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates that even seemingly benign system operations like compression can introduce security risks when proper access controls are not implemented, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.