CVE-2020-3850 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Catalina 10.15.3. A remote attacker may be able to cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3850 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that existed within macOS Catalina versions prior to 10.15.3. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The flaw manifests when applications receive malformed input that triggers unexpected behavior in memory management routines. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely, allowing attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of input data, where insufficient validation allows malicious payloads to overwrite critical memory segments or manipulate execution flow.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow vulnerabilities in heap data structures. These classifications indicate that the flaw involves improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes, where input data exceeds allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level or system libraries that handle input processing, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially bypass traditional user-space protections. Attackers can leverage this weakness through remote network connections, sending specially crafted input to applications that process such data, leading to system instability or complete compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3850 extends beyond simple application crashes, as the arbitrary code execution capability presents a severe threat to system integrity and data confidentiality. When exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks that could lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core operating system functionality, meaning that any application running on the affected macOS versions could serve as an attack vector. This makes the impact particularly widespread across the macOS ecosystem, affecting both personal and enterprise environments where users may unknowingly interact with malicious content through web browsers, email clients, or other network-connected applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3850 primarily focus on immediate system updates to macOS Catalina 10.15.3 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the official security updates from Apple, as these patches address the root cause through enhanced input validation mechanisms. Additionally, network administrators can implement defensive measures such as firewall rules that restrict access to vulnerable applications and monitoring systems that detect unusual network traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. The patch implementation follows standard security practices aligned with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies, particularly focusing on maintaining up-to-date software versions as a primary defense mechanism. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any applications that may be running on older macOS versions and ensure comprehensive patch management across all system components.