CVE-2020-9802 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5, tvOS 13.4.5, watchOS 6.2.5, Safari 13.1.1, iTunes 12.10.7 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 11.2, iCloud for Windows 7.19. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9802 represents a logic flaw in Apple's software ecosystem that was addressed through enhanced access controls and restriction mechanisms. This issue affected multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, Safari, and various iCloud implementations across Windows environments. The flaw originated from insufficient validation mechanisms that allowed maliciously crafted web content to bypass security boundaries and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input sanitization and access control enforcement that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized execution privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of web content processing within Apple's browser and web rendering engines. When users encountered maliciously crafted web pages or content, the system's restriction mechanisms failed to properly validate or sanitize the input data, creating a pathway for attackers to inject and execute unauthorized code. This logic issue aligns with common CWE classifications related to improper input validation and inadequate access controls, specifically mapping to CWE-250 for execution of unintended commands and CWE-345 for insufficient verification of data authenticity. The vulnerability's impact extends across Apple's ecosystem due to shared codebases and similar processing mechanisms across different platforms, making it particularly concerning for widespread exploitation potential.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-9802 represents a significant security risk for organizations and individual users who rely on Apple's ecosystem for web browsing and cloud services. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious websites, compromised web applications, or phishing campaigns that deliver crafted content to vulnerable systems. The potential for arbitrary code execution creates opportunities for full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent access within affected environments. This vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, demonstrating how attackers can exploit web-based vulnerabilities to establish malicious presence on target systems. The widespread nature of affected Apple platforms means that successful exploitation could impact millions of devices across different user segments.
Apple's resolution for CVE-2020-9802 involved implementing enhanced restriction mechanisms and improved validation processes for web content processing across all affected software versions. The updates released for iOS 13.5, iPadOS 13.5, tvOS 13.4.5, watchOS 6.2.5, Safari 13.1.1, iTunes 12.10.7 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 11.2, and iCloud for Windows 7.19 all incorporated additional layers of security checking and access control enforcement. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these security updates across all affected Apple platforms to mitigate the risk of exploitation. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of related attack campaigns that may leverage this vulnerability. The fix demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing logic flaws through enhanced software validation and access restriction mechanisms, aligning with industry best practices for vulnerability remediation and security hardening.