CVE-2020-27920Network attack vector

Code execution via libxml2 use-after-free

Published Apr 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in libxml2 in iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS allows remote attackers to execute code via crafted web content. Apple states that libxml2 mishandles memory lifetime while processing maliciously crafted web content but does not identify the affected function or object. The target must process attacker-controlled web content, and successful exploitation runs code in the context of the application using the library.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in libxml2 in iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS allows remote attackers to execute code via crafted web content. Apple states that libxml2 mishandles memory lifetime while processing maliciously crafted web content but does not identify the affected function or object. The target must process attacker-controlled web content, and successful exploitation runs code in the context of the application using the library.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27920
Published
Apr 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <14.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <14.2
Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <14.2
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.0; version=unspecified <11.1
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <7.1

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo