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CVE-2022-26693

9.1 CRITICAL

📋 TL;DR

This macOS vulnerability allows malicious plug-ins to inherit the host application's permissions and access user data without proper authorization. It affects macOS Monterey users before version 12.4. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation through plug-in mechanisms.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:
  • macOS Monterey
Versions: All versions before 12.4
Operating Systems: macOS Monterey
Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes
Notes: Affects systems with plug-in capable applications installed. The vulnerability is in macOS's plug-in permission handling mechanism.

📦 What is this software?

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⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system compromise where a malicious plug-in gains full access to all user data, sensitive files, and system resources with the application's elevated privileges.

🟠

Likely Case

Unauthorized access to user documents, photos, browser data, and other personal information through compromised or malicious plug-ins.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited data exposure if applications run with minimal necessary privileges and plug-in installation is restricted.

🌐 Internet-Facing: MEDIUM - Requires user to install malicious plug-in, but could be delivered through compromised software repositories or social engineering.
🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal users could exploit through malicious plug-ins, but requires initial access or user interaction.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No
Weaponized: UNKNOWN
Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No
Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires user to install or be tricked into installing a malicious plug-in. No public exploit code has been disclosed.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: macOS Monterey 12.4

Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213257

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Open System Preferences > Software Update. 2. Click 'Update Now' if macOS Monterey 12.4 is available. 3. Follow on-screen instructions to download and install. 4. Restart your Mac when prompted.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable unnecessary plug-ins

all

Remove or disable plug-ins from applications that don't require them for essential functionality.

Check individual application settings for plug-in management

Restrict plug-in installation

all

Configure macOS to require administrator approval for plug-in installation.

Use System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General to set app installation restrictions

🧯 If You Can't Patch

  • Run applications with minimal necessary privileges using sandboxing or privilege reduction
  • Implement application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized plug-in installation

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check macOS version: If running macOS Monterey version earlier than 12.4, system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

sw_vers

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify macOS version is 12.4 or later in System Preferences > About This Mac.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

  • Unexpected plug-in loading in application logs
  • Permission escalation attempts in system logs

Network Indicators:

  • Unusual outbound connections from plug-in processes
  • Downloads of suspicious plug-in files

SIEM Query:

source="macos_system_logs" AND (event="plugin_load" OR event="permission_change") AND user!="system"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2022-26693
CVSS v3 Score: 9.1 (CRITICAL)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Published: May 26, 2022
Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

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