CVE-2020-27921 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A race condition in macOS was addressed with improved state handling, allowing an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Understanding CVE-2020-27921

This CVE involves a vulnerability in macOS that could potentially lead to the execution of arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

What is CVE-2020-27921?

CVE-2020-27921 is a race condition vulnerability in macOS that was fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.1, Security Update 2020-001 Catalina, Security Update 2020-007 Mojave, and macOS Big Sur 11.0.1. The issue could allow an application to run arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-27921

The vulnerability could be exploited by an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-27921

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

A race condition in macOS was mitigated by enhancing state handling. This improvement prevents an application from executing arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Systems: macOS
Vulnerable Versions:
macOS versions less than 11.0
macOS versions less than 11.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by an application to gain kernel privileges and execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising the security of the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-27921 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary security updates provided by Apple promptly.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the operating system and software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and least privilege principles to limit the impact of potential security breaches.

Patching and Updates

Install macOS Big Sur 11.1, Security Update 2020-001 Catalina, Security Update 2020-007 Mojave, or macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 to address the CVE-2020-27921 vulnerability.