CVE-2020-29622Network attack vector

System-privileged code execution via NFS mount race

Published Oct 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

A kernel race in Apple Security Update Catalina before 2021 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with system privileges. The kernel's NFS mount handling performs insufficient validation while concurrent operations race on a maliciously crafted network share. Exploitation requires a user or process to mount an attacker-controlled NFS share, after which code runs with system privileges.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A kernel race in Apple Security Update Catalina before 2021 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with system privileges. The kernel's NFS mount handling performs insufficient validation while concurrent operations race on a maliciously crafted network share. Exploitation requires a user or process to mount an attacker-controlled NFS share, after which code runs with system privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-29622
Published
Oct 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
Security Update Catalina
Classifications
CWE-362, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 19, 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 <2021

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · Security Update Catalinaversion=unspecified <2021

Published CVSS scores

8.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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