CVE-2019-8900Public exploit

Physical code execution via USB DFU use-after-free

Published Feb 21, 2025 · Updated Feb 22, 2025

Use-after-free in Apple SecureROM on A5 through A11 devices allows physically proximate attackers to execute code during boot. The USB DFU data-phase handler frees its I/O buffer during DFU re-entry while retaining stale transfer state, allowing crafted packets to overwrite a callback. Exploitation requires physical USB access and DFU mode; execution is nonpersistent, and protected data remains inaccessible without the unlock PIN or fingerprint.

CVSS severity5.6
Medium
EPSS probability68.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Apple SecureROM on A5 through A11 devices allows physically proximate attackers to execute code during boot. The USB DFU data-phase handler frees its I/O buffer during DFU re-entry while retaining stale transfer state, allowing crafted packets to overwrite a callback. Exploitation requires physical USB access and DFU mode; execution is nonpersistent, and protected data remains inaccessible without the unlock PIN or fingerprint.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-8900
Published
Feb 21, 2025
Updated
Feb 22, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
SecureROM
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=A5 <=A11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · SecureROMversion=A5 <=A11

Published CVSS scores

5.6CERT/CCAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:C/A:N
5.3CERT/CCAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:C/A:N/E:F/RL:U/RC:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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