CVE-2021-30957

Arbitrary code execution via CoreAudio buffer overflow

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

A buffer overflow in Apple CoreAudio on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by processing a maliciously crafted audio file. CoreAudio performs unsafe memory handling while processing attacker-supplied audio data, allowing the overflow to corrupt memory. Exploitation requires local user interaction with the crafted file and can provide code execution in the affected process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

A buffer overflow in Apple CoreAudio on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by processing a maliciously crafted audio file. CoreAudio performs unsafe memory handling while processing attacker-supplied audio data, allowing the overflow to corrupt memory. Exploitation requires local user interaction with the crafted file and can provide code execution in the affected process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30957
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS and iPadOS
Classifications
CWE-120, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

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

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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <15.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=unspecified <15.2
Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <12.1; version=unspecified <15.2
Apple · watchOSversion=unspecified <8.3

Published CVSS scores

6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo