CVE-2019-8538

Name: CVE-2019-8538
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-10-27T20:15:15+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 5.5/10EPSS 0.85%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2019-8538 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 5.5/10 on the CVSS scale. A denial of service issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in watchOS 5.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, Security Update 2019-002 High Sierra, Security Update 2019-002 Sierra, iOS 12.2. EPSS estimates a 0.85% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

A denial of service issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in watchOS 5.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, Security Update 2019-002 High Sierra, Security Update 2019-002 Sierra, iOS 12.2. Processing a maliciously crafted vcf file may lead to a denial of service.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.85%

53.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Apple	Iphone Os	< 12.2
Apple	Mac Os X	>= 10.14.3, < 10.14.4
Apple	Watchos	< 5.2

References

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209599Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209600Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209602Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209599Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209600Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209602Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Oct 27, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-8538?

How severe is CVE-2019-8538?

CVE-2019-8538 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.85% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2019-8538?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2019-8538?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST