CVE-2021-30721Network attack vector

Authenticated file metadata disclosure via absolute paths

Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in the SMB server in Apple macOS allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary file metadata via a crafted directory query. The SMB2 QUERY_DIRECTORY handler accepts an absolute UNIX path in its search string and passes it to darwin::query_relative_name without confining it to the selected share. Access requires an authenticated SMB account and a privileged network position; returned data is limited to metadata readable by the account's underlying user.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability24.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in the SMB server in Apple macOS allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary file metadata via a crafted directory query. The SMB2 QUERY_DIRECTORY handler accepts an absolute UNIX path in its search string and passes it to darwin::query_relative_name without confining it to the selected share. Access requires an authenticated SMB account and a privileged network position; returned data is limited to metadata readable by the account's underlying user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30721
Published
Sep 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-22, T1083
Attack vector
network
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.4
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2021

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.4; version=unspecified <2021

Published CVSS scores

4.3Cisco TalosCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1083File and Directory Discovery

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo