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CVE-2019-8540

Status: ModifiedMedium (5.5)—💥 PoC

A memory initialization issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, tvOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2. A malicious application may be able to determine kernel memory layout.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

💥 Public exploits

Exploit code or detection templates are publicly available. This is not the same as confirmed active exploitation (KEV), but it raises the risk: patch with priority.

⚠️ GitHub proofs of concept are not verified: some are fake or contain malware. Never run them outside an isolated lab.

Affected technologies (4)

Apple — Iphone OSApple — MAC OS XApple — TvosApple — Watchos

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2019-8540",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 7.1,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 6.9,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 5.5,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 3.6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "product-security@apple.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Apple",
          "product": "iOS",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "iOS 12.2",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Apple",
          "product": "macOS",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "macOS Mojave 10.14.4",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Apple",
          "product": "tvOS",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "tvOS 12.2",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Apple",
          "product": "watchOS",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "watchOS 5.2",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2019-12-18T18:15:24.850",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209599",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "product-security@apple.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209600",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "product-security@apple.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209601",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "product-security@apple.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209602",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "product-security@apple.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209599",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
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      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209600",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209601",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT209602",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-665"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "A memory initialization issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, tvOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2. A malicious application may be able to determine kernel memory layout."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Un problema de inicialización de memoria fue abordado mejorando el manejo de la memoria. Este problema es corregido en iOS versión 12.2, macOS Mojave versión 10.14.4, tvOS versión 12.2, watchOS versión 5.2. Una aplicación maliciosa puede ser capaz de determinar el diseño de la memoria del kernel."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T02:42:07.590",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "1531E802-5419-4B38-8C0C-BDCBC272648F",
              "versionEndExcluding": "12.2"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "09CDBB72-2A0D-4321-BA1F-4FB326A5646A",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.14.4"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:tvos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "98912716-69F2-4372-98F0-BD6CCA9AAEB9",
              "versionEndExcluding": "12.2"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:watchos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "8962A4FE-AE67-421E-9635-B03E2EBCDF19",
              "versionEndExcluding": "5.2"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "product-security@apple.com"
}