CVE-2021-1810Public exploit

Unsigned code execution via lost quarantine attribute

Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Gatekeeper bypass in Apple macOS Big Sur before 11.3 and Catalina before Security Update 2021-002 allows attackers to run unsigned code. Archive Utility fails to propagate the com.apple.quarantine extended attribute to extracted files whose paths exceed 886 characters. A user must open the crafted archive and launch its payload; the missing attribute suppresses Gatekeeper, quarantine, and notarization checks.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Gatekeeper bypass in Apple macOS Big Sur before 11.3 and Catalina before Security Update 2021-002 allows attackers to run unsigned code. Archive Utility fails to propagate the com.apple.quarantine extended attribute to extracted files whose paths exceed 886 characters. A user must open the crafted archive and launch its payload; the missing attribute suppresses Gatekeeper, quarantine, and notarization checks.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1810
Published
Sep 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 8, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.3
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2021

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.3; version=unspecified <2021

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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