CVE-2021-30864Public exploit

Sandbox escape via inherited Terminal environment variables

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Sandbox escape in LaunchServices in Apple macOS before 12.0 allows local users to execute commands outside an app's sandbox. LaunchServices lets a sandboxed process open unsandboxed Terminal with attacker-controlled HOME and __OSINSTALL_ENVIROMENT values, causing its shell to load a profile written inside the app container. Code must already run inside a sandboxed app; successful exploitation runs the profile payload with Terminal's permissions and can reach data allowed to Terminal.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability1.42%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sandbox escape in LaunchServices in Apple macOS before 12.0 allows local users to execute commands outside an app's sandbox. LaunchServices lets a sandboxed process open unsandboxed Terminal with attacker-controlled HOME and __OSINSTALL_ENVIROMENT values, causing its shell to load a profile written inside the app container. Code must already run inside a sandboxed app; successful exploitation runs the profile payload with Terminal's permissions and can reach data allowed to Terminal.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30864
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1059.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 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 <12.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <12.0

Published CVSS scores

8.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1059.004Unix Shell

Public exploit references

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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