CVE-2020-27935Public exploit

Sandbox escape via pre-enforcement Objective-C execution

Published Apr 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Sandbox escape in XNU across Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS allows attackers to execute outside sandbox restrictions. On macOS, attacker-controlled Objective-C runtime data is parsed before libsecinit applies the App Sandbox, enabling pre-enforcement code execution. The gate is execution of a crafted application or framework; the public exploit reads files outside its container, while its researcher states the other listed systems were not directly affected.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability1.68%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sandbox escape in XNU across Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS allows attackers to execute outside sandbox restrictions. On macOS, attacker-controlled Objective-C runtime data is parsed before libsecinit applies the App Sandbox, enabling pre-enforcement code execution. The gate is execution of a crafted application or framework; the public exploit reads files outside its container, while its researcher states the other listed systems were not directly affected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27935
Published
Apr 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
T1068
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
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <7.1

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
6.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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