CVE-2021-30970Public exploit

Local privacy-control bypass via TCC database path manipulation

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Authentication bypass in Apple macOS before 12.1 or 11.6 allows local users to access protected data by bypassing Privacy preferences. The tccd service can be induced to use an attacker-planted TCC database after the user home-directory path is changed, granting applications permissions without consent prompts. Exploitation requires execution of a malicious application on the Mac and can expose files, microphone input, camera feeds, or screen contents.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability14.66%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Apple macOS before 12.1 or 11.6 allows local users to access protected data by bypassing Privacy preferences. The tccd service can be induced to use an attacker-planted TCC database after the user home-directory path is changed, granting applications permissions without consent prompts. Exploitation requires execution of a malicious application on the Mac and can expose files, microphone input, camera feeds, or screen contents.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30970
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1562.001
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 <11.6
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <12.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.6; version=unspecified <12.1

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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 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

T1562.001Impair Defenses

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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