CVE-2021-30903

Local code execution via Continuity Camera format string

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Uncontrolled format string in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS before fixed releases allows local attackers to execute code or terminate applications. Continuity Camera processes attacker-controlled formatting input without adequate validation, enabling malformed format directives to corrupt memory or terminate the handling application. A local attacker must run on the device; the resulting impact ranges from unexpected application termination to arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled format string in Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS before fixed releases allows local attackers to execute code or terminate applications. Continuity Camera processes attacker-controlled formatting input without adequate validation, enabling malformed format directives to corrupt memory or terminate the handling application. A local attacker must run on the device; the resulting impact ranges from unexpected application termination to arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30903
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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 <14.8
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <14.8; version=unspecified <15.1
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <12.0

Published CVSS scores

4.6NISTAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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