Type confusion in Apple iOS
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-843 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A type confusion issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1, macOS Catalina 10.15.3, tvOS 13.3.1, watchOS 6.1.2. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iOS | before iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1 | iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | macOS | before macOS Catalina 10.15.3 | macOS Catalina 10.15.3 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | tvOS | before tvOS 13.3.1 | tvOS 13.3.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| Apple | watchOS | before watchOS 6.1.2 | watchOS 6.1.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- iOS VendorApple Affected before iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1 Fixed in iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1 Patch available CNA
- macOS VendorApple Affected before macOS Catalina 10.15.3 Fixed in macOS Catalina 10.15.3 Patch available CNA
- tvOS VendorApple Affected before tvOS 13.3.1 Fixed in tvOS 13.3.1 Patch available CNA
- watchOS VendorApple Affected before watchOS 6.1.2 Fixed in watchOS 6.1.2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 13.3.1 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 13.3.1 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 10.15.3 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 13.3.1 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 6.1.2 | Vulnerable | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 13.3.1 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 13.3.1 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 10.15.3 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 13.3.1 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 6.1.2 Vulnerable ·Apple
Remediation
- Fix · CNA iOS (Apple) Fixed in iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1
- Fix · CNA macOS (Apple) Fixed in macOS Catalina 10.15.3
- Fix · CNA tvOS (Apple) Fixed in tvOS 13.3.1
- Fix · CNA watchOS (Apple) Fixed in watchOS 6.1.2
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Apple iOS iOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 13.3.1
25 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 2 MEDIUM, 22 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-03339 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOSPriority CRITICAL 93
- TI-2020-03348 Memory corruption in Apple iOSPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2020-03328 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOSPriority MEDIUM 41
- Release ·
Apple macOS macOS Catalina 10.15.3
23 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 1 MEDIUM, 21 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-03339 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOSPriority CRITICAL 93
- TI-2020-03348 Memory corruption in Apple iOSPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2020-03378 Out-of-bounds read in Apple macOSPriority LOW 37
Show 2 more groups
- Release ·
Apple watchOS watchOS 6.1.2
16 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 1 MEDIUM, 14 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-03339 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOSPriority CRITICAL 93
- TI-2020-03348 Memory corruption in Apple iOSPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2020-03378 Out-of-bounds read in Apple macOSPriority LOW 37
- Release ·
Apple tvOS tvOS 13.3.1
15 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 2 MEDIUM, 12 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-03339 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOSPriority CRITICAL 93
- TI-2020-03348 Memory corruption in Apple iOSPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2020-03328 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOSPriority MEDIUM 41
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-3853
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2cm9-frr4-6q2v
References
More Apple Ipados vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-28008 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-22441 Apple iOS and iPadOS: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-22440 Memory corruption in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-17951 Out-of-bounds write in Apple Safari KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2025-17847 Use after free in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2022-06854 Out-of-bounds write in Apple iOS and iPadOS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2020-3853 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-3853 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2cm9-frr4-6q2v · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences