CVE-2020-27922

Arbitrary code execution via malformed font processing

Published Apr 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

CoreText in iOS and iPadOS before 14.2, tvOS before 14.2, watchOS before 7.1, and affected macOS releases allows attackers to execute code. CoreText incorrectly manages parser state while processing untrusted font data; Apple has not identified the affected routine or state transition. An attacker must cause an affected device to process a crafted font file; successful exploitation runs arbitrary code in the parsing context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

CoreText in iOS and iPadOS before 14.2, tvOS before 14.2, watchOS before 7.1, and affected macOS releases allows attackers to execute code. CoreText incorrectly manages parser state while processing untrusted font data; Apple has not identified the affected routine or state transition. An attacker must cause an affected device to process a crafted font file; successful exploitation runs arbitrary code in the parsing context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27922
Published
Apr 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
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

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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=unspecified <14.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

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

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Your stack

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