CVE-2020-9785

Kernel code execution via memory corruption

Published Apr 1, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Memory corruption in Apple operating systems before the listed fixes allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple describes multiple state-management memory corruptions but does not publish a specific component or function locus for CVE-2020-9785. Exploitation requires local application execution and user interaction to launch the malicious application; the resulting impact is kernel-level code execution affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

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

Memory corruption in Apple operating systems before the listed fixes allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple describes multiple state-management memory corruptions but does not publish a specific component or function locus for CVE-2020-9785. Exploitation requires local application execution and user interaction to launch the malicious application; the resulting impact is kernel-level code execution affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9785
Published
Apr 1, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-787, 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 · macOSversion=unspecified <macOS Catalina 10.15.4
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <watchOS 6.2

Published CVSS scores

9.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NVDCVSS: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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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