CVE-2021-30704

Kernel code execution via flawed state management

Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Kernel logic error in Apple iOS and iPadOS before 14.6 and affected macOS releases allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. The flaw is in the kernel's state management, but Apple has not published the affected state transition or the incorrect operation. Exploitation requires a local application execution context and results in arbitrary code running with kernel privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel logic error in Apple iOS and iPadOS before 14.6 and affected macOS releases allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. The flaw is in the kernel's state management, but Apple has not published the affected state transition or the incorrect operation. Exploitation requires a local application execution context and results in arbitrary code running with kernel privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30704
Published
Sep 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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 <14.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <14.6
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.4; version=unspecified <14.6; version=unspecified <2021; version=unspecified <7.5

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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