CVE-2021-40531Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via unquarantined library downloads

Published Sep 6, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Quarantine bypass in Sketch before 75 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious library feed on macOS. Sketch accepts an unrestricted enclosure URL, downloads its file without com.apple.quarantine, then automatically opens it. A victim must add the feed or click a crafted sketch:// link; a terminal profile can then run its CommandString without confirmation.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability32.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Quarantine bypass in Sketch before 75 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious library feed on macOS. Sketch accepts an unrestricted enclosure URL, downloads its file without com.apple.quarantine, then automatically opens it. A victim must add the feed or click a crafted sketch:// link; a terminal profile can then run its CommandString without confirmation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40531
Published
Sep 6, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-434, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 6, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
T1204.001User Execution: Malicious Link

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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