CVE-2020-3834

Kernel code execution via IOMikeyBusFamily use-after-free

Published Feb 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in the watchOS kernel before 6.1.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. IOMikeyBusDeviceUserClient in IOMikeyBusFamily accesses an object after its lifetime ends, corrupting kernel memory through stale state. Exploitation requires a local application and user interaction; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled code with kernel privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.33%
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 the watchOS kernel before 6.1.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. IOMikeyBusDeviceUserClient in IOMikeyBusFamily accesses an object after its lifetime ends, corrupting kernel memory through stale state. Exploitation requires a local application and user interaction; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled code with kernel privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-3834
Published
Feb 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
watchOS
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2020CVE 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 <watchOS 6.1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <watchOS 6.1.2

Published CVSS scores

9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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