CVE-2020-9926

Code execution via freed XML parser memory

Published Apr 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in Apple libxml2 allows attackers to crash apps or execute code through crafted XML on affected iOS, iPadOS, and macOS releases. The libxml2 parser continues using memory after releasing it while processing attacker-controlled XML, corrupting process state. Exploitation requires an affected application to process the crafted XML; affected releases include iOS and iPadOS before 13.6 and unpatched Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra systems.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Apple libxml2 allows attackers to crash apps or execute code through crafted XML on affected iOS, iPadOS, and macOS releases. The libxml2 parser continues using memory after releasing it while processing attacker-controlled XML, corrupting process state. Exploitation requires an affected application to process the crafted XML; affected releases include iOS and iPadOS before 13.6 and unpatched Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra systems.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9926
Published
Apr 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 2, 2021CVE 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <13.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <13.6
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <10.15; version=unspecified <13.4; version=unspecified <6.2; version=unspecified <7.20

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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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