Kernel code execution via unchecked framebuffer index
Published Oct 19, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Memory corruption in IOMobileFrameBuffer in Apple macOS Big Sur before 11.5.1 allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. The IOMobileFramebufferUserClient::s_displayed_fb_surface method uses a user-provided index without checking it against the IOSurface pointer array, causing an out-of-bounds pointer read and kernel type confusion. Exploitation requires local application execution, and successful exploitation grants control at kernel privilege.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in IOMobileFrameBuffer in Apple macOS Big Sur before 11.5.1 allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. The IOMobileFramebufferUserClient::s_displayed_fb_surface method uses a user-provided index without checking it against the IOSurface pointer array, causing an out-of-bounds pointer read and kernel type confusion. Exploitation requires local application execution, and successful exploitation grants control at kernel privilege.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-30807
- Published
- Oct 19, 2021
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 19, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2021Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities entry
- Oct 21, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <11.5
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <14.7
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <7.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Public exploit references
- iomfb-exploitfunctional · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities entryknown exploited catalog
- Apple reported active exploitationreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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