// For flags

CVE-2020-9839

Apple macOS cfprefsd Time-Of-Check Time-Of-Use Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Severity Score

7.0
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

A race condition was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5, macOS Catalina 10.15.5, tvOS 13.4.5, watchOS 6.2.5. An application may be able to gain elevated privileges.

Se abordó una condición de carrera con un manejo del estado mejorado. Este problema es corregido en iOS versión 13.5 y iPadOS versión 13.5, macOS Catalina versión 10.15.5, tvOS versión 13.4.5, watchOS versión 6.2.5. Una aplicación puede ser capaz de alcanzar privilegios elevados

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Apple macOS. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the handling of file permisions. The issue results from the lack of proper locking when performing operations on an object. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the root.

*Credits: @jinmo123, @setuid0x0_, and @insu_yun_en of @SSLab_Gatech
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
Partial
Availability
Partial
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2020-03-02 CVE Reserved
  • 2020-05-28 CVE Published
  • 2024-06-02 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-08-04 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Apple
Search vendor "Apple"
 Ipados
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Ipados"
 < 13.5
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Ipados" and version " < 13.5"
-
Affected
Apple
Search vendor "Apple"
 Iphone Os
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Iphone Os"
 < 13.5
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Iphone Os" and version " < 13.5"
-
Affected
Apple
Search vendor "Apple"
 Mac Os X
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Mac Os X"
 < 10.15.5
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Mac Os X" and version " < 10.15.5"
-
Affected
Apple
Search vendor "Apple"
 Tvos
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Tvos"
 < 13.4.5
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Tvos" and version " < 13.4.5"
-
Affected
Apple
Search vendor "Apple"
 Watchos
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Watchos"
 < 6.2.5
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Watchos" and version " < 6.2.5"
-
Affected