CVE-2020-3857

System-privilege code execution via Audio memory corruption

Published Feb 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Memory corruption in Apple Audio on affected iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS releases allows local users to execute code with system privileges. Apple identifies improper memory handling in Audio but has not published the affected function, memory-safety operation, or triggering input. Execution requires a locally running application, and successful exploitation grants system-level code execution rather than remote access.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Apple Audio on affected iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS releases allows local users to execute code with system privileges. Apple identifies improper memory handling in Audio but has not published the affected function, memory-safety operation, or triggering input. Execution requires a locally running application, and successful exploitation grants system-level code execution rather than remote access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-3857
Published
Feb 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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

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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 <iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOSversion=unspecified <iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1
Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <tvOS 13.3.1
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <macOS Catalina 10.15.3
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <watchOS 6.1.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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
Privilegesauthenticated
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

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Your stack

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