CVE-2020-9788

JavaScript execution via improperly sanitized file rendering

Published Jun 9, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Input validation failure in Apple macOS before Catalina 10.15.5 allows attackers to execute JavaScript by opening a crafted file. Apple identifies only the Security component and improved input sanitization, leaving the renderer, file format, and rejected validation rule undisclosed. User interaction is required to open the crafted file, and the documented consequence is JavaScript execution in the rendering context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.88%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Input validation failure in Apple macOS before Catalina 10.15.5 allows attackers to execute JavaScript by opening a crafted file. Apple identifies only the Security component and improved input sanitization, leaving the renderer, file format, and rejected validation rule undisclosed. User interaction is required to open the crafted file, and the documented consequence is JavaScript execution in the rendering context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9788
Published
Jun 9, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-20, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 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 <macOS Catalina 10.15.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <macOS Catalina 10.15.5

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.

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-20Improper Input Validation
T1204.002Malicious File

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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