Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Apple fixed a flaw where a malicious image could trigger memory reading outside expected bounds and potentially run code. The provided sources list fixes across macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS, but do not provide CVSS scoring or confirmed exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority Apple patch compliance issue because the stated impact is arbitrary code execution through malicious image handling. Urgency is strongest for devices that regularly receive untrusted media or are outside managed update control.
Technical view
CVE-2020-27924 is an Apple out-of-bounds read issue addressed with improved input validation. The stated impact is arbitrary code execution when processing a maliciously crafted image. Fixed releases include iOS/iPadOS 14.2, watchOS 7.1, tvOS 14.2, macOS Big Sur updates, and Catalina/Mojave security updates.
Likely exposure
Organizations may be exposed where Apple devices process image content and have not received the listed Apple security updates. Version detail in the source bundle is limited to fixed releases, so exact vulnerable version ranges are not established here.
Exploitation context
The sources state malicious image processing may lead to arbitrary code execution. The bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false, so exploitation should not be claimed as observed from this evidence.
Researcher notes
The public bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, precise vulnerable ranges, and exploit telemetry. Analysis should stay anchored to Apple’s fixed-version advisories and avoid inferring exploitability beyond maliciously crafted image processing leading to arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Apple updates containing the CVE-2020-27924 fix across affected OS families.
- Prioritize internet-facing, BYOD, executive, and unmanaged Apple devices.
- For legacy macOS, confirm Catalina or Mojave security updates are installed.
- Check Apple guidance for any platform-specific update prerequisites.
- Reduce exposure to untrusted image content where patching is delayed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS assets.
- Compare installed versions against Apple fixed releases listed for this CVE.
- Confirm Catalina and Mojave systems have the relevant security updates.
- Review MDM or endpoint management compliance reports for missing Apple updates.
- Document exceptions where devices cannot be upgraded and track compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-27924 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211931CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211928CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211929CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211930CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212011CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.