CVE-2020-9985 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 • 10/04/2022
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9985 represents a critical security flaw in Apple's ecosystem affecting multiple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability stems from inadequate memory handling during the processing of Universal Scene Description (USD) files, which are commonly used for 3D graphics and animation data in Apple's ecosystem. The flaw manifests when applications attempt to parse maliciously crafted USD files that contain oversized data structures or malformed memory allocations, creating conditions where the application's memory boundaries are exceeded. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability falls under the category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The issue is particularly concerning because USD files are frequently used in professional 3D applications, design tools, and multimedia content creation software that are integral to Apple's ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-9985 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable arbitrary code execution, making it a severe threat vector for attackers seeking to compromise Apple devices. When an application processes a malicious USD file, the buffer overflow can corrupt adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical program variables, function pointers, or return addresses. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable application termination or more dangerous scenarios where attackers can inject and execute malicious code within the application's memory space. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate application workflows, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network-based security measures. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver payload through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing mechanisms that involve USD file processing.
The remediation of CVE-2020-9985 required Apple to implement improved memory handling mechanisms in their graphics processing libraries and file parsing functions. The security updates released for iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, macOS Catalina 10.15.6, and watchOS 6.2.8 introduced enhanced bounds checking, memory allocation validation, and improved input sanitization routines specifically for USD file processing. These patches address the root cause by implementing proper buffer size validation and ensuring that memory allocations are sufficient to handle the expected data structures within USD files. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through file parsing and memory corruption, specifically covering T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution). The fix demonstrates Apple's commitment to addressing memory safety issues in their core frameworks, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and the mitigation of common software vulnerabilities that have historically led to system compromise.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate deployment of the applicable security updates for their respective operating systems to protect against exploitation of CVE-2020-9985. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Apple devices are commonly used for sensitive data processing and corporate communications. Security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious file processing activities and consider network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The fix serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper memory management in application development and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including fuzzing and memory safety analysis. This vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all software components updated, as the exploitation of such memory corruption issues often requires specific conditions that are typically addressed through timely security patches. The remediation process demonstrates the effectiveness of proactive security measures and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations across all managed devices.