Local root escalation via inadequate symlink validation
Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024
Symlink validation failure in Apple Core Services before iOS and iPadOS 14.6 and macOS Big Sur 11.4 allows local users to gain root privileges. Apple identifies Core Services as the affected component and says its symlink handling lacked adequate validation, but it does not disclose the specific privileged operation. Exploitation requires a malicious application to run locally; successful exploitation grants root privileges on the device.
Summary
What happened
Symlink validation failure in Apple Core Services before iOS and iPadOS 14.6 and macOS Big Sur 11.4 allows local users to gain root privileges. Apple identifies Core Services as the affected component and says its symlink handling lacked adequate validation, but it does not disclose the specific privileged operation. Exploitation requires a malicious application to run locally; successful exploitation grants root privileges on the device.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-30681
- Published
- Sep 8, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2024
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- CWE-20, T1404, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 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 <14.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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