CVE-2022-32794

Local privilege escalation via PackageKit state flaw

Published Nov 1, 2022 · Updated May 6, 2025

Logic flaw in PackageKit in Apple macOS allows local users to gain elevated privileges by launching a malicious application. PackageKit mishandles internal state during a privileged operation, but Apple has not disclosed the affected routine or state transition. Execution of a local app and user interaction are required; successful exploitation grants elevated privileges on the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Logic flaw in PackageKit in Apple macOS allows local users to gain elevated privileges by launching a malicious application. PackageKit mishandles internal state during a privileged operation, but Apple has not disclosed the affected routine or state transition. Execution of a local app and user interaction are required; successful exploitation grants elevated privileges on the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-32794
Published
Nov 1, 2022
Updated
May 6, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 1, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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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 <12.4
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2022

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.6; version=unspecified <12.4; version=unspecified <2022

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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