How severe is CVE-2020-1909?

CVE-2020-1909 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-1909 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-1909?

CVE-2020-1909 primarily affects Whatsapp. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-1909?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-1909 published?

CVE-2020-1909 was published on 2020-11-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-1909

CVE-2020-1909 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Whatsapp with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 7.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (81st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-416
Affected product: Whatsapp
Published: 2020-11-03
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A use-after-free in a logging library in WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.20.111 and WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.20.111 could have resulted in memory corruption, crashes and potentially code execution. This could have happened only if several events occurred together in sequence, including receiving an animated sticker while placing a WhatsApp video call on hold.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-1909?: A use-after-free in a logging library in WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.20.111 and WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.20.111 could have resulted in memory corruption, crashes and potentially code execution. This could have happened only if several events occurred together in sequence, including receiving an animated sticker while placing a WhatsApp video call on hold.
How severe is CVE-2020-1909?: CVE-2020-1909 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-1909 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-1909?: CVE-2020-1909 primarily affects Whatsapp. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-1909?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-1909 published?: CVE-2020-1909 was published on 2020-11-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.whatsapp.com/security/advisories/2020/

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp_business:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:*

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CVE-2020-1907 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A stack overflow in WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.20.196.16, WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.20.196.12,…
CVE-2020-1891 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A user controlled parameter used in video call in WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.20.17, WhatsApp Business for Android…

All CVEs affecting Whatsapp →

Other CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-13782 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.47 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the…
CVE-2026-4725 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Graphics: Canvas2D component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 149…
CVE-2026-4688 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Disability Access APIs component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox…
CVE-2025-24085 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3,…
CVE-2024-43102 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Concurrent removals of certain anonymous shared memory mappings by using the UMTX_SHM_DESTROY sub-request of…
CVE-2021-32495 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Radare2 has a use-after-free vulnerability in pyc parser's get_none_object function. Attacker can read freed memory…

Browse all CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities →