Apple iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS Kernel Privilege Escalation and Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2020-9907)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTApple devices running iOS versions prior to 13.6, iPadOS versions prior to 13.6, and tvOS versions prior to 13.4.8
A local application can exploit a memory corruption vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Immediately update affected devices to iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, tvOS 13.4.8 or later
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Apply the official security updates provided by Apple. For enterprise environments, enforce OS updates using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions.
# Example MDM API command to force OS update on managed iOS/iPadOS devices
curl -X POST 'https://mdm.example.com/api/v1/commands' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer <MDM_API_TOKEN>' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{
"command": "ScheduleOSUpdate",
"target_device_udids": ["UDID_1", "UDID_2"],
"update_version": "13.6",
"install_action": "Default"
}'2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict the installation of untrusted enterprise applications and configuration profiles via MDM policies.
# Example MDM Profile restriction payload to block untrusted app installation
<key>allowAppInstallation</key>
<false/>
<key>allowUIConfigurationProfileInstallation</key>
<false/>3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Run the following Python script to parse your device inventory and identify vulnerable iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS versions.
# Run the audit script to identify vulnerable Apple OS versions in your inventory
cat << 'EOF' > audit_apple_devices.py
import json
devices = [
{'name': 'User_iPhone', 'os': 'iOS', 'version': '13.5.1'},
{'name': 'Meeting_Room_AppleTV', 'os': 'tvOS', 'version': '13.4.5'},
{'name': 'CEO_iPad', 'os': 'iPadOS', 'version': '13.6'}
]
for dev in devices:
ver = list(map(int, dev['version'].split('.')))
is_vuln = False
if dev['os'] in ['iOS', 'iPadOS']:
if ver < 13 or (ver == 13 and ver < 6):
is_vuln = True
elif dev['os'] == 'tvOS':
if ver < 13 or (ver == 13 and ver < 4) or (ver == 13 and ver == 4 and ver < 8):
is_vuln = True
if is_vuln:
print(f'[WARNING] Vulnerable Device Detected: {dev["name"]} ({dev["os"]} {dev["version"]})')
else:
print(f'[SAFE] {dev["name"]} ({dev["os"]} {dev["version"]})')
EOF
python3 audit_apple_devices.pyBlock Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2020-9907) is a critical memory corruption issue (CWE-787) residing within the kernel and system components of Apple iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. The root cause stems from insufficient bounds checking during the handling of specific system calls or data structures, allowing an attacker to perform out-of-bounds memory writes. Apple addressed this issue by completely removing the vulnerable code block from the affected components.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by delivering a malicious application to the target device or chaining it with other sandbox escape exploits. When a user executes the malicious application or processes crafted content (requiring user interaction, UI:R), the application triggers the memory corruption vulnerability via specific API calls. This corrupts the kernel memory space, allowing the attacker to hijack the execution flow and execute arbitrary payloads with elevated kernel privileges, completely bypassing OS-level sandbox protections.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
As this vulnerability is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full kernel-level access, enabling them to bypass all security controls, access sensitive corporate data, install persistent spyware, and fully compromise the affected mobile or media infrastructure.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
A memory corruption issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.6 and iPadOS 13.6, tvOS 13.4.8. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2020-9907)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2020-9907 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2020-9907 is rated CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 3.2%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2020-9907?
Primary impacted vendors include apple across ios, ipados, tvos. Scope summary: All Apple devices running iOS/iPadOS versions prior to 13.6, and tvOS versions prior to 13.4.8
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2020-9907 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately update affected devices to iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, tvOS 13.4.8 or later Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2020-9907
Instantly format this advisory into an executive CISO summary or engineering patch ticket.
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