CVE-2021-30780

Root privilege escalation via CVMS bounds failure

Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Out-of-bounds write in CVMS in Apple iOS before 14.7 and affected macOS releases allows local users to gain root privileges. CVMS writes beyond a required memory boundary because bounds are not adequately enforced; Apple has not disclosed the affected function or input. A malicious application must run locally and trigger CVMS, after which successful exploitation grants root privileges; no remote attack path is reported.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in CVMS in Apple iOS before 14.7 and affected macOS releases allows local users to gain root privileges. CVMS writes beyond a required memory boundary because bounds are not adequately enforced; Apple has not disclosed the affected function or input. A malicious application must run locally and trigger CVMS, after which successful exploitation grants root privileges; no remote attack path is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30780
Published
Sep 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
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 <14.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOSversion=unspecified <14.7
Apple · Security Update Catalinaversion=unspecified <2021
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.5; version=unspecified <14.7; version=unspecified <2021; version=unspecified <7.6

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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