CVE-2022-46723: Apple macOS RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2022-46723 Overview

CVE-2022-46723 is a critical arbitrary file write vulnerability affecting Apple macOS systems. This issue was addressed with improved checks in the affected macOS versions. The vulnerability allows a remote user to write arbitrary files to the system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability to write arbitrary files to vulnerable macOS systems without requiring any user interaction or authentication, potentially enabling full system compromise.

Affected Products

• Apple macOS Monterey (versions prior to 12.6.1)
• Apple macOS Big Sur (versions prior to 11.7.1)

Discovery Timeline

• 2023-02-27 - CVE-2022-46723 published to NVD
• 2025-03-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-46723

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2022-46723 is an arbitrary file write vulnerability in Apple macOS that stems from insufficient validation checks. The vulnerability is associated with CWE-787 (Out-of-Bounds Write), indicating that improper memory handling may be involved in the underlying issue.

The vulnerability enables remote attackers to write arbitrary files to the target system. This type of flaw can have devastating consequences, as attackers could overwrite critical system files, plant malicious executables, or modify configuration files to establish persistence. The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and improper checks within the affected macOS components. Apple addressed this issue by implementing improved checks to properly validate input before processing file write operations. The association with CWE-787 (Out-of-Bounds Write) suggests that memory boundary validation was inadequate, potentially allowing attackers to write data outside of intended memory regions.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L). The attacker requires no privileges (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N) is needed to successfully exploit this flaw. Successful exploitation can result in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

The remote arbitrary file write capability could be leveraged by attackers to:

• Overwrite system configuration files to modify security settings
• Plant malicious executables in startup locations for persistence
• Modify or delete critical system files causing denial of service
• Install backdoors or additional malware components

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-46723

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected file modifications in system directories such as /System, /Library, or /Applications
• Suspicious network connections from macOS systems to unknown external hosts
• Unusual file creation events in protected system locations
• Anomalous process activity related to file system operations

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system activity for unauthorized writes to protected directories
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting macOS systems
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify suspicious file operations
• Review system logs for evidence of unauthorized file modifications

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable macOS Unified Logging and monitor for file system events in critical directories
• Configure alerts for any file write operations to system-critical paths from unexpected processes
• Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on critical system files and directories
• Monitor network connections for unusual patterns indicative of remote exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-46723

Immediate Actions Required

• Update macOS Monterey to version 12.6.1 or later immediately
• Update macOS Big Sur to version 11.7.1 or later immediately
• Audit systems for signs of compromise before and after patching
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable macOS systems

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates to address this vulnerability:

• macOS Monterey 12.6.1: Available via Apple Support Document HT213494
• macOS Big Sur 11.7.1: Available via Apple Support Document HT213493

Users should apply these updates through System Preferences > Software Update or by downloading the updates directly from Apple's support website.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to vulnerable macOS systems using firewall rules until patches can be applied
• Implement strict network segmentation to isolate macOS endpoints from untrusted networks
• Monitor for and block suspicious inbound network traffic targeting macOS systems
• Consider temporarily disconnecting vulnerable systems from networks if immediate patching is not possible

# Verify current macOS version
sw_vers

# Check for available software updates
softwareupdate --list

# Install all available updates
softwareupdate --install --all

# Verify update was applied successfully
sw_vers -productVersion