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CVE Record

CVE-2022-32851: An out-of-bounds read issue was addressed with improved input validation.

An out-of-bounds read issue was addressed with improved input validation. 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.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This macOS flaw could make a system processing a malicious AppleScript binary crash or disclose process memory. It requires local processing and user interaction, but no privileges. The business risk is mainly information exposure and endpoint instability on unpatched Macs.

Executive priority

Prioritize routine-to-accelerated patching for managed macOS fleets, especially endpoints that handle external files. This is high severity but not confirmed actively exploited in the supplied evidence.

Technical view

CVE-2022-32851 is a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in macOS AppleScript binary processing. Apple says improved input validation fixes it in Security Update 2022-005 Catalina, macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, and macOS Monterey 12.5. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1: local, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Macs running affected macOS releases before the Apple fixed versions named in the advisories. The bundle does not identify affected builds beyond macOS or name non-Apple products.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV inclusion or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation would require a maliciously crafted AppleScript binary to be processed locally with user interaction.

Researcher notes

The vulnerability affects confidentiality and availability, not integrity, per the CVSS vector. The bundle lacks detailed component internals, proof-of-concept status, or vulnerable build ranges beyond Apple’s fixed release statements.

Mitigation direction

  • Update Catalina with Security Update 2022-005 or later vendor guidance.
  • Update macOS Big Sur to 11.6.8 or later.
  • Update macOS Monterey to 12.5 or later.
  • Limit handling of untrusted AppleScript binaries until systems are remediated.
  • Check Apple advisories for any superseding guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory macOS endpoints and compare versions with Apple fixed releases.
  • Confirm Catalina systems have Security Update 2022-005 installed.
  • Confirm Big Sur systems are at 11.6.8 or later.
  • Confirm Monterey systems are at 12.5 or later.
  • Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious AppleScript-related crashes or memory disclosure alerts.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-32851 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H1.85.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-32851Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
ApplemacOSunspecifiedListed
ApplemacOSunspecifiedListed
ApplemacOSunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-125

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-125 · source CWE mapping

Out-of-bounds Read

Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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