CVE-2020-9882 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2020
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.6 and iPadOS 13.6, macOS Catalina 10.15.6, watchOS 6.2.8. Processing a maliciously crafted USD file may lead to unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9882 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's operating systems that affects iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, macOS Catalina 10.15.6, and watchOS 6.2.8. This issue stems from inadequate memory handling when processing Universal Scene Description files, which are commonly used for 3D graphics and scene representation in Apple's ecosystem. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of maliciously crafted USD files, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by adversaries to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. When an application processes a malformed USD file, the improper memory handling causes the program to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to application crashes or more severe consequences. The flaw specifically manifests in the way the system allocates and manages memory buffers during file parsing operations, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly restrict the amount of data that can be written to allocated memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users of affected Apple devices, as the exploitation could result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application. Attackers could craft malicious USD files designed to trigger the buffer overflow when opened by vulnerable applications, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes, as successful exploitation could enable persistent access to device resources, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malicious software. The vulnerability affects the core operating system components responsible for 3D graphics processing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted 3D content.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2020-9882 involves implementing the security updates released by Apple in iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, macOS Catalina 10.15.6, and watchOS 6.2.8, which address the memory handling issues through improved bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize the deployment of these updates across all affected devices and implement additional security measures such as sandboxing applications that process 3D content, network monitoring for suspicious file transfers, and user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted 3D files. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could enable adversaries to execute arbitrary code through compromised applications, while also mapping to T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution when malicious USD files are opened by vulnerable applications. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious file processing activities and implement network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs.