CVE-2021-30786

Code execution via CoreGraphics PDF race condition

Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Race condition in CoreGraphics in Apple iOS before 14.7 and macOS Big Sur before 11.5 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted PDF. Apple identifies faulty state handling but has not disclosed the specific shared state or operation that races while CoreGraphics opens the file. Successful exploitation requires a user to open the crafted PDF and can crash the handling application or execute arbitrary code.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.79%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in CoreGraphics in Apple iOS before 14.7 and macOS Big Sur before 11.5 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted PDF. Apple identifies faulty state handling but has not disclosed the specific shared state or operation that races while CoreGraphics opens the file. Successful exploitation requires a user to open the crafted PDF and can crash the handling application or execute arbitrary code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30786
Published
Sep 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-362, T1203, 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 <14.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOSversion=unspecified <14.7
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.5

Published CVSS scores

5.1NIST NVDAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

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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