CVE-2020-9804

Kernel panic via invalid USB device messages

Published Jun 9, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Denial of service in AppleUSBNetworking in Apple macOS Catalina 10.15.4 allows physically proximate attackers to trigger a kernel panic. The component applies insufficient restrictions when a connected USB device supplies invalid messages, allowing them to reach a kernel-failure path. Physical insertion of a malicious USB device is required, and successful triggering interrupts the entire Mac rather than only an application.

CVSS severity4.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in AppleUSBNetworking in Apple macOS Catalina 10.15.4 allows physically proximate attackers to trigger a kernel panic. The component applies insufficient restrictions when a connected USB device supplies invalid messages, allowing them to reach a kernel-failure path. Physical insertion of a malicious USB device is required, and successful triggering interrupts the entire Mac rather than only an application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9804
Published
Jun 9, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
physical
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 vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <macOS Catalina 10.15.5

Published CVSS scores

4.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
4.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service

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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