CVE-2020-3878 : Security Advisory and Response

An out-of-bounds read vulnerability was addressed with improved input validation in various Apple products. Processing a maliciously crafted image could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2020-3878

What is CVE-2020-3878?

CVE-2020-3878 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple Apple products, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code by exploiting a flaw in image processing.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3878

The vulnerability could be exploited by processing a specially crafted image, leading to arbitrary code execution on affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3878

Vulnerability Description

The issue was fixed in iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5, macOS Catalina 10.15.5, tvOS 13.4.5, watchOS 6.2.5, iTunes 12.10.7 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 11.2, and iCloud for Windows 7.19.

Affected Systems and Versions

iOS versions prior to 13.5 and iPadOS versions prior to 13.5
macOS versions prior to Catalina 10.15.5
tvOS versions prior to 13.4.5
watchOS versions prior to 6.2.5
iTunes for Windows versions prior to 12.10.7
iCloud for Windows versions prior to 11.2
Legacy iCloud for Windows versions prior to 7.19

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through the processing of a maliciously crafted image, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected Apple products to the fixed versions mentioned above.
Avoid opening or processing images from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all software and operating systems to the latest versions.
Implement security best practices to prevent the execution of arbitrary code through image processing.

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches and updates provided by Apple to address the CVE-2020-3878 vulnerability.