# CVE-2020-9859: Apple Multiple Products Code Execution Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-9859-apple-multiple-products-code-execution-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-9859 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

A memory consumption issue (double free) in the Apple kernel allows a local application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The vulnerability was addressed through improved memory handling across multiple Apple operating systems.

Technologies: [Apple Multiple Products](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/multiple-products). Vendors: [Apple](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apple).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-9859 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-9859 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-9859?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Apple iOS up to (excluding) 13.5.1; Apple iPadOS up to (excluding) 13.5.1; Apple macOS Catalina up to (excluding) 10.15.5 Supplemental Update; Apple tvOS up to (excluding) 13.4.6; and 1 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-9859?** A patch was published on 2020-06-01: Apple released updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-9859 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-9859?** Check whether you run Apple Multiple Products. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Apple iOS up to (excluding) 13.5.1
- Apple iPadOS up to (excluding) 13.5.1
- Apple macOS Catalina up to (excluding) 10.15.5 Supplemental Update
- Apple tvOS up to (excluding) 13.4.6
- Apple watchOS up to (excluding) 6.2.6

## Timeline

- 2020-06-05: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2020-06-01: patched: Apple released updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
- 2021-11-03: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild.

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