CVE-2020-9951 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A use after free issue in Safari was addressed with improved memory management, fixing the issue in Safari 14.0. Processing malicious web content could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2020-9951

This CVE involves a critical vulnerability in Safari that could allow arbitrary code execution.

What is CVE-2020-9951?

CVE-2020-9951 is a use after free issue in Safari that was resolved by enhancing memory management. Exploiting this vulnerability could result in arbitrary code execution by processing specially crafted web content.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9951

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim's device by tricking them into visiting a malicious website or opening a crafted file.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9951

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

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a use after free issue in Safari that was fixed in version 14.0. It arises from improper memory management.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Safari by Apple
Affected Versions: Safari versions prior to 14.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by enticing a user to visit a specially crafted website or open a malicious file, triggering the use after free issue and potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-9951 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Safari to version 14.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement web filtering and security solutions to block malicious content.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Apple promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.