CVE-2020-9855

Local privilege escalation via symlink validation

Published Jun 9, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Symlink validation in the location-tracking component of Apple macOS Catalina 10.15.4 allows local users to elevate privileges. The component accepts symbolic links without sufficient validation; Apple has not disclosed the affected function or privileged operation redirected through a link. Exploitation requires local code execution on an affected Mac and results in elevated privileges; no remote vector is reported.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink validation in the location-tracking component of Apple macOS Catalina 10.15.4 allows local users to elevate privileges. The component accepts symbolic links without sufficient validation; Apple has not disclosed the affected function or privileged operation redirected through a link. Exploitation requires local code execution on an affected Mac and results in elevated privileges; no remote vector is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9855
Published
Jun 9, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <macOS Catalina 10.15.5

Published CVSS scores

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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 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-20Improper Input Validation
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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