CVE-2022-32786Public exploit

SIP bypass via system_installd environment-variable injection

Published Sep 23, 2022 · Updated May 22, 2025

Improper input validation in Apple macOS PackageKit allows local users to bypass SIP and modify protected file-system areas. An attacker-set environment variable reaches system_installd; a modified postinstall script from an untrusted DMG then runs with its inherited SIP-bypass entitlement. Exploitation requires local app execution and an Apple-signed package, and grants write access to SIP-protected locations.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability2.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Apple macOS PackageKit allows local users to bypass SIP and modify protected file-system areas. An attacker-set environment variable reaches system_installd; a modified postinstall script from an untrusted DMG then runs with its inherited SIP-bypass entitlement. Exploitation requires local app execution and an Apple-signed package, and grants write access to SIP-protected locations.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-32786
Published
Sep 23, 2022
Updated
May 22, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-20, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.6
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.5
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2022

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.6; version=unspecified <12.5; version=unspecified <2022

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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