How severe is CVE-2020-9988?

CVE-2020-9988 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-9988 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (24th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-9988?

CVE-2020-9988 primarily affects Apple Ipados. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-9988?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-9988 published?

CVE-2020-9988 was published on 2020-12-08 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-9988

CVE-2020-9988 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipados with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 2.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (24th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Apple Ipados
Published: 2020-12-08
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The issue was addressed with improved deletion. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.0.1, iOS 14.0 and iPadOS 14.0. A local user may be able to discover a user’s deleted messages.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-9988?: The issue was addressed with improved deletion. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.0.1, iOS 14.0 and iPadOS 14.0. A local user may be able to discover a user’s deleted messages.
How severe is CVE-2020-9988?: CVE-2020-9988 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2020-9988 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (24th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-9988?: CVE-2020-9988 primarily affects Apple Ipados. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-9988?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-9988 published?: CVE-2020-9988 was published on 2020-12-08 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (3)

cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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