CVE-2020-9976 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2020
A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 14.0 and iPadOS 14.0, tvOS 14.0, watchOS 7.0. A malicious application may be able to leak sensitive user information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical logic flaw in Apple's operating system implementations that was resolved through enhanced state management protocols. The issue stems from insufficient validation of application states during system operations, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data exposure. The fix was implemented across multiple Apple platforms including iOS 14.0, iPadOS 14.0, tvOS 14.0, and watchOS 7.0, indicating the severity of the vulnerability across the entire ecosystem. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-252, which addresses improper handling of exceptional conditions in software systems, particularly when state transitions are not properly managed during application execution cycles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage concerns, as it provides malicious applications with potential mechanisms to exploit system state inconsistencies. When applications transition between different operational states, improper state management can leave sensitive information accessible through memory remnants or process interferences. This creates an attack surface where unauthorized applications could potentially access cached data, temporary files, or process memory segments that should remain isolated. The vulnerability demonstrates how state management deficiencies can undermine fundamental security principles, particularly those related to information flow control and access isolation.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability enables adversaries to craft malicious applications that specifically target the state management gaps in the operating system. The attack vector likely involves exploiting timing conditions or race states where applications transition between foreground and background operations, leaving sensitive data temporarily exposed. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where attackers leverage system state inconsistencies to execute unauthorized data extraction operations. The implementation of improved state management in the patched versions addresses these vulnerabilities by enforcing stricter validation protocols during application lifecycle transitions.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of broader state management security concerns that affect mobile operating systems. The remediation approach emphasizes the importance of proper state validation and memory management protocols that prevent information leakage during application state transitions. Organizations implementing security controls should verify that their mobile device management policies include mandatory updates to these patched versions. The vulnerability also highlights the critical need for continuous monitoring of application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly during system state transitions. These improvements in state management contribute to overall system integrity by ensuring that sensitive user information remains protected throughout all operational phases of application execution and system interaction.