CVE-2021-30869Known exploitation

Kernel code execution via Mach port type confusion

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Type confusion in XNU in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a malicious application. XNU mishandles Mach port state, allowing a port typed IKOT_NAMED_ENTRY to be changed to privileged types such as IKOT_HOST_SECURITY or IKOT_HOST_PRIV. Successful exploitation requires execution in a user context and grants root-equivalent control outside the application sandbox.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Type confusion in XNU in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a malicious application. XNU mishandles Mach port state, allowing a port typed IKOT_NAMED_ENTRY to be changed to privileged types such as IKOT_HOST_SECURITY or IKOT_HOST_PRIV. Successful exploitation requires execution in a user context and grants root-equivalent control outside the application sandbox.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30869
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-843, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 1, 2021Exploitation reportedHong Kong watering-hole exploit chain
  2. Aug 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Nov 3, 2021Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing
  4. Oct 21, 2025Record 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 <14.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <14.4
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.2; version=unspecified <12.5; version=unspecified <2021

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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 exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-843Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type ('Type Confusion')
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.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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