CVE-2020-9981 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management in various Apple products.

Understanding CVE-2020-9981

What is CVE-2020-9981?

CVE-2020-9981 is a use after free vulnerability in multiple Apple products that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code by processing a specially crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9981

The vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution by processing a maliciously crafted file.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9981

Vulnerability Description

The issue was fixed in several Apple products including watchOS 7.0, iOS 14.0, iPadOS 14.0, iTunes for Windows 12.10.9, iCloud for Windows 11.5, tvOS 14.0, macOS Catalina 10.15.7, Security Update 2020-005 High Sierra, and Security Update 2020-005 Mojave.

Affected Systems and Versions

tvOS: Less than version 14.0
watchOS: Less than version 7.0
macOS: Less than versions 10.15, 14.0, 11.5, and 12.10

Exploitation Mechanism

Processing a maliciously crafted file triggers the vulnerability, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected Apple products to the fixed versions mentioned above.
Avoid opening files 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 malicious files.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Apple to address the CVE-2020-9981 vulnerability.