CVE-2020-9821 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A memory corruption issue in Apple's iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS has been identified and fixed in the latest updates.

Understanding CVE-2020-9821

This CVE addresses a critical memory corruption vulnerability in multiple Apple operating systems.

What is CVE-2020-9821?

The vulnerability allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9821

A successful exploit could lead to unauthorized access and control over the affected device.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9821

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue was due to a memory corruption problem that has been resolved with enhanced state management.

Affected Systems and Versions

iOS versions prior to 13.5 and iPadOS versions prior to 13.5
macOS versions earlier than Catalina 10.15.5
tvOS versions before 13.4.5
watchOS versions preceding 6.2.5

Exploitation Mechanism

A malicious application can exploit this vulnerability to run arbitrary code with elevated kernel privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from this vulnerability with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update all affected devices to the latest OS versions that contain the security patches.
Avoid downloading and running untrusted applications on your devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update your devices to ensure they have the latest security fixes.
Implement app whitelisting and restrict the installation of apps from unknown sources.

Patching and Updates

Apply all security updates provided by Apple promptly to safeguard your devices.