CVE-2021-30873Public exploit

Privilege escalation via insecure saved-state deserialization

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Insecure saved-state deserialization in AppKit in Apple macOS before 12.0 allows local users to elevate privileges via a malicious application. AppKit restores encrypted objects from writable per-user saved-state files without requiring secure coding, permitting attacker-chosen classes and method calls. Exploitation requires a malicious application and interaction that launches a targeted AppKit application; a demonstrated chain reaches root.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insecure saved-state deserialization in AppKit in Apple macOS before 12.0 allows local users to elevate privileges via a malicious application. AppKit restores encrypted objects from writable per-user saved-state files without requiring secure coding, permitting attacker-chosen classes and method calls. Exploitation requires a malicious application and interaction that launches a targeted AppKit application; a demonstrated chain reaches root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30873
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1055
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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1055Process Injection

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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