CVE-2020-27946 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-27946, an information disclosure issue in Apple products that could expose process memory. Find out affected systems, impact, and mitigation steps.
An information disclosure issue in Apple products was addressed with improved state management, affecting iOS and iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS.
Understanding CVE-2020-27946
An information disclosure vulnerability that could lead to the exposure of process memory in Apple operating systems.
What is CVE-2020-27946?
This CVE addresses an issue where processing a maliciously crafted font could potentially disclose process memory on affected Apple devices.
The Impact of CVE-2020-27946
The vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive information from the affected devices' memory, posing a risk to user data confidentiality.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-27946
Details about the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability involves processing specially crafted fonts, leading to the exposure of process memory on devices running affected versions of Apple operating systems.
Affected Systems and Versions
- iOS and iPadOS versions less than 14.3
- tvOS versions less than 14.3
- watchOS versions less than 7.2
- macOS versions less than 11.1
Exploitation Mechanism
By tricking a user into opening a document or visiting a website containing the malicious font, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive information.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate the CVE-2020-27946 vulnerability and enhance system security.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update affected Apple devices to the fixed versions: iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3, tvOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, macOS Big Sur 11.1.
- Avoid opening files or visiting websites from untrusted or suspicious sources.
- Regularly check for security updates from Apple and apply them promptly.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Educate users about the risks of opening files from unknown sources.
- Implement security measures like firewalls and antivirus software to prevent malicious attacks.
Patching and Updates
- Apple has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Ensure devices are updated to the latest versions to stay protected.