Apple watchOS up to 6.2.5 Kernel Application resource consumption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple watchOS up to 6.2.5 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Kernel. Executing a manipulation as part of Application can lead to resource consumption. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2020-9859. The attack can only be executed locally. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Apple watchOS up to 6.2.5 (Smartwatch Operating System) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code of the component Kernel. The manipulation as part of a Application leads to a resource consumption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-400. The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource, thereby enabling an actor to influence the amount of resources consumed, eventually leading to the exhaustion of available resources. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A memory consumption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.5.1 and iPadOS 13.5.1, macOS Catalina 10.15.5 Supplemental Update, tvOS 13.4.6, watchOS 6.2.6. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

The weakness was shared 06/01/2020 by unc0ver as HT211217 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared for download at support.apple.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2020-9859 since 03/02/2020. The attack needs to be approached locally. A single authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available.

It is declared as attacked. This issue was added on 11/03/2021 to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a due date of 05/03/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Upgrading to version 6.2.6 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2020-30638). The entries VDB-156243, VDB-156245 and VDB-156246 are related to this item. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.0

VulDB Base Score: 8.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Resource consumption
CWE: CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Attacked

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

KEV Added: 🔍
KEV Due: 🔍
KEV Remediation: 🔍
KEV Ransomware: 🔍
KEV Notice: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: watchOS 6.2.6

Timelineinfo

03/02/2020 🔍
06/01/2020 +91 days 🔍
06/01/2020 +0 days 🔍
06/06/2020 +5 days 🔍
07/29/2025 +1879 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT211217
Researcher: unc0ver
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2020-9859 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2020-9859
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-156244
EUVD: 🔍
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/06/2020 09:18
Updated: 07/29/2025 04:38
Changes: 06/06/2020 09:18 (45), 06/06/2020 09:23 (18), 04/20/2024 11:11 (28), 09/10/2024 22:45 (2), 01/29/2025 20:46 (19), 07/29/2025 04:38 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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