CVE-2020-9768

System code execution via Image Processing use-after-free

Published Apr 1, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

A use-after-free in Apple Image Processing before iOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4 or watchOS 6.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with system privileges. The Image Processing component can dereference memory after it has been released when handling crafted image data, a concrete memory-management failure described by Apple. Exploitation requires a malicious application to run on the device and interact with image processing; the resulting code executes with system privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A use-after-free in Apple Image Processing before iOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4 or watchOS 6.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with system privileges. The Image Processing component can dereference memory after it has been released when handling crafted image data, a concrete memory-management failure described by Apple. Exploitation requires a malicious application to run on the device and interact with image processing; the resulting code executes with system privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9768
Published
Apr 1, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 1, 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 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOSversion=unspecified <iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4
Apple · tvOSversion=unspecified <tvOS 13.4
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <watchOS 6.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/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.

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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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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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