CVE-2020-9851 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An access issue in macOS was addressed with improved access restrictions, fixing the vulnerability in macOS Catalina 10.15.5. This CVE allows a malicious application to modify protected parts of the file system.

Understanding CVE-2020-9851

This CVE relates to a security vulnerability in macOS that could be exploited by a malicious application to alter protected areas of the file system.

What is CVE-2020-9851?

CVE-2020-9851 is a security vulnerability in macOS that allows a malicious application to modify protected parts of the file system. The issue was resolved in macOS Catalina 10.15.5.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9851

The vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious application to make unauthorized changes to critical areas of the file system, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9851

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in macOS Catalina 10.15.5 allows a malicious application to modify protected parts of the file system, posing a risk to system integrity and data security.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Systems: macOS
Affected Versions: macOS Catalina 10.15.5 (and potentially earlier versions)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a malicious application to gain unauthorized access and modify protected areas of the file system, compromising system security.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-9851 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update macOS to version 10.15.5 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid downloading or running untrusted applications to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the operating system and applications to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Implement robust security measures such as firewalls and antivirus software to prevent unauthorized access.
Educate users about safe computing practices to reduce the likelihood of falling victim to malicious attacks.
Monitor system activity for any suspicious behavior that may indicate a security breach.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running macOS are updated to at least version 10.15.5 to mitigate the vulnerability and protect against potential exploitation.