CVE-2020-3853: High severity Apple tvOS vulnerability

Published Jan 28, 2020
·
Updated

A type confusion issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1, macOS Catalina 10.15.3, tvOS 13.3.1, watchOS 6.1.2. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.

Other sources

Kernel. A type confusion issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

Credit

Brandon Azad(Google Project Zero)

Affected Software

12 affected componentsFixes available
Apple tvOS<13.3.1
13.3.1
Apple macOS Catalina<10.15.3
10.15.3
Apple Mojave
Apple High Sierra
Apple WatchOS<6.1.2
6.1.2
Apple iOS<13.3.1
13.3.1
Apple iPadOS<13.3.1
13.3.1
Apple iPadOS<13.3.1
Apple iPhone OS<13.3.1
Apple iOS and macOS<10.15.3
Apple tvOS<13.3.1
Apple WatchOS<6.1.2

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade tvOS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 13.3.1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade macOS Catalina to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 10.15.3
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.2
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apple iOS and iPadOS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 13.3.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 13.3.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade iOS 13/iPadOS 13/tvOS 13/watchOS 6/macOS 10.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 13.3.1
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade macOS Catalina 10.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 10.15.3
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade watchOS 6 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.2

Event History

Feb 27, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:45 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:45 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Sep 13, 58461
Event
06:07 PM

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2020-3853?

CVE-2020-3853 is a vulnerability in the Kernel that involves a type confusion issue and has been addressed with improved memory handling.

2

How does CVE-2020-3853 impact Apple tvOS?

CVE-2020-3853 affects Apple tvOS versions up to but not including 13.3.1.

3

How does CVE-2020-3853 impact Apple watchOS?

CVE-2020-3853 affects Apple watchOS versions up to but not including 6.1.2.

4

How does CVE-2020-3853 impact Apple iOS?

CVE-2020-3853 affects Apple iOS versions up to but not including 13.3.1.

5

How does CVE-2020-3853 impact Apple iPadOS?

CVE-2020-3853 affects Apple iPadOS versions up to but not including 13.3.1.

6

How does CVE-2020-3853 impact Apple macOS Catalina?

CVE-2020-3853 affects Apple macOS Catalina versions up to but not including 10.15.3.

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