CVE-2019-8605
Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2019-8605 is a use-after-free vulnerability affecting multiple Apple products, including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The flaw allows a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges by exploiting a dangling pointer in kernel memory management. Successful exploitation grants an attacker full control over the affected device, including the ability to install persistent malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or modify system integrity. CISA has added CVE-2019-8605 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and with an EPSS score of 14.4% (94th percentile), this Apple use-after-free vulnerability represents a significant threat requiring immediate remediation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| apple | iphone os | < 12.3 |
| apple | mac os x | < 10.14.5 |
| apple | tvos | < 12.3 |
| apple | watchos | < 5.2.1 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://support.apple.com/HT210118(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/HT210119(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/HT210120(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://support.apple.com/HT210122(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-8605(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-416: Use After Free
CVE-2019-8605 exploits a use-after-free condition in Apple's kernel, where memory is freed but a pointer to that memory continues to be referenced. When the freed memory is subsequently reallocated and the stale pointer is dereferenced, an attacker can control the data that occupies the previously freed region, enabling arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. This class of vulnerability is particularly prevalent in complex systems with manual memory management, such as operating system kernels.
Learn more: CWE-416 — Use After Free
Impact Analysis
CVE-2019-8605 is a high-severity vulnerability that allows a locally installed malicious application to escalate privileges to system level across Apple's entire product ecosystem. The vulnerability requires local access through a malicious application, meaning an attacker must first convince a user to install or run compromised software. Once the malicious application is running, no further user interaction is required, and the exploit can execute without special privileges beyond those granted to any installed app. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all severely impacted — an attacker achieving system-level code execution can read all data on the device, modify system files, and disrupt device operations entirely. With an EPSS score of 14.4% placing it in the 94th percentile, CVE-2019-8605 has a meaningfully elevated probability of exploitation, and its presence in the CISA KEV catalog confirms that threat actors have leveraged this vulnerability in real-world attacks.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2019-8605 in the wild by including it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a remediation deadline set for July 18, 2022. The EPSS score of 14.4% (94th percentile) indicates a substantially elevated likelihood of exploitation compared to most vulnerabilities. While no specific ransomware usage has been attributed to this vulnerability, the ability to gain system-level code execution on Apple devices makes it a high-value target for both state-sponsored actors and sophisticated criminal groups seeking persistent access to mobile and desktop environments.
Remediation
- Apply Apple security updates immediately as required by the CISA KEV catalog. Update iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS to the latest patched versions that address CVE-2019-8605 — specifically iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, and watchOS 5.2.1 or later.
- Audit all managed Apple devices within your organization to identify any running vulnerable firmware versions, prioritizing devices that may have been exposed to untrusted applications during the window of vulnerability.
- Restrict application installation sources by enforcing MDM policies that limit app installation to the official App Store and vetted enterprise applications, reducing the attack surface for malicious applications that could exploit this kernel vulnerability.
- Monitor device logs for indicators of compromise including unexpected kernel panics, anomalous process executions with elevated privileges, or suspicious application behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts targeting this use-after-free vulnerability.
- Enable automatic security updates on all Apple devices across your fleet to ensure timely patching of kernel-level vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-8605 in the future.
Technical Details
CVE-2019-8605 stems from a use-after-free vulnerability in the Apple kernel's memory management subsystem, where a kernel object is freed but a reference to the deallocated memory region persists. When this dangling pointer is subsequently dereferenced, the kernel accesses memory that may have been reallocated for a different purpose, allowing an attacker to control the contents of this memory region through heap manipulation techniques. By carefully crafting the heap layout — a technique known as heap feng shui — an attacker can place controlled data containing malicious function pointers or vtable entries at the exact memory location referenced by the stale pointer, achieving arbitrary code execution at the kernel privilege level. The attack requires a locally installed application as the entry point, but once triggered, the use-after-free condition provides a reliable path to full system compromise across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS due to shared kernel codebase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2019-8605 being actively exploited?
Yes. CISA has added CVE-2019-8605 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. The EPSS score of 14.4% (94th percentile) further indicates elevated exploitation probability. While no known ransomware campaigns are associated with this vulnerability, it has been used in targeted attacks against Apple devices.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-8605?
CVE-2019-8605 affects multiple Apple products including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Specifically, versions prior to iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, and watchOS 5.2.1 are vulnerable. Any Apple device running these older operating system versions is at risk.
How do I fix CVE-2019-8605?
Update all affected Apple devices to the patched versions: iOS 12.3 or later, macOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later, tvOS 12.3 or later, and watchOS 5.2.1 or later. Enable automatic security updates and restrict app installation to trusted sources via MDM policies to reduce the risk of malicious applications exploiting this kernel vulnerability.
How severe is CVE-2019-8605?
CVE-2019-8605 is a high-severity vulnerability that enables system-level code execution through a malicious application. Its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog and an EPSS percentile of 94.3% underscore its real-world danger. Successful exploitation grants complete control over the affected Apple device, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
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