Pointer Authentication bypass via flawed Swift validation
Published Apr 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024
A logic flaw in Swift in Apple operating systems before macOS 11.2, iOS 14.4, and iPadOS 14.4 allows local users to bypass Pointer Authentication. Apple has not published which Swift routine performs the insufficient validation or what input defeats the Pointer Authentication check. Exploitation requires prior arbitrary read and write capability, so the flaw removes a control-flow defense rather than providing initial access.
Summary
What happened
A logic flaw in Swift in Apple operating systems before macOS 11.2, iOS 14.4, and iPadOS 14.4 allows local users to bypass Pointer Authentication. Apple has not published which Swift routine performs the insufficient validation or what input defeats the Pointer Authentication check. Exploitation requires prior arbitrary read and write capability, so the flaw removes a control-flow defense rather than providing initial access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-1769
- Published
- Apr 2, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2024
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <14.4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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