CVE-2021-30990Public exploit

Gatekeeper bypass via symlinked Automator application stub

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Gatekeeper bypass in Apple macOS before Monterey 12.1 and Big Sur 11.6.2 allows local users to run code through a crafted Automator app. LaunchServices trusts a symlinked Automator Application Stub at a known system path while loading attacker-controlled commands from the app’s relative document.wflow file. Apple macOS Catalina is also affected; exploitation requires another user to download and open the crafted app, which then runs the workflow commands.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Gatekeeper bypass in Apple macOS before Monterey 12.1 and Big Sur 11.6.2 allows local users to run code through a crafted Automator app. LaunchServices trusts a symlinked Automator Application Stub at a known system path while loading attacker-controlled commands from the app’s relative document.wflow file. Apple macOS Catalina is also affected; exploitation requires another user to download and open the crafted app, which then runs the workflow commands.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30990
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1204.002, T1553.001
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

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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
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2021

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=unspecified <11.6; version=unspecified <12.1; version=unspecified <2021

Published CVSS scores

5.5NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.3NISTAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
T1553.001Subvert Trust Controls: Gatekeeper Bypass

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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