CVE-2020-9949 Use after free in macOS
An attacker can execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a use-after-free vulnerability in Apple operating systems.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2020-9949?
CVE-2020-9949 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 8 Dec 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.0.1, watchOS 7.0, iOS 14.0 and iPadOS 14.0, macOS Catalina 10.15.6, Security Update 2020-004 Mojave, Security Update 2020-004 High Sierra, tvOS 14.0. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-9949?
It affects 5 products.
Products include Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos.
How do I fix CVE-2020-9949?
No fix has been published for CVE-2020-9949 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2020-9949 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9949 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipados
- CVE-2025-43300 Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Out-of-Bounds Write
- CVE-2025-24201 Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write
- CVE-2025-24085 Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free
- CVE-2025-31200 Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption
- CVE-2025-31201 Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write
Sources
Also known as GHSA-54xg-w6ch-fmhh.