CVE-2021-30955 : What You Need to Know

A race condition vulnerability in Apple products could allow a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Understanding CVE-2021-30955

This CVE affects multiple Apple products including macOS, watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS.

What is CVE-2021-30955?

CVE-2021-30955 is a race condition vulnerability that has been fixed in macOS Monterey 12.1, watchOS 8.3, iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, and tvOS 15.2. The vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious application to run arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-30955

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, privilege escalation, and potentially complete control over the affected devices. It poses a significant security risk to Apple users.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-30955

The following details outline the specifics of the vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

A race condition issue was mitigated with improved state handling to prevent unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts the following Apple products:

watchOS versions prior to 8.3
iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 15.2
macOS versions prior to 12.1
macOS versions prior to 15.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially compromising the security of the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial for users to take immediate action to protect their devices from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update macOS to version 12.1 or later
Update watchOS to version 8.3 or later
Update iOS and iPadOS to version 15.2 or later
Update tvOS to version 15.2
Avoid downloading and installing apps from untrusted sources

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update your Apple devices to the latest software versions
Enable automatic updates for enhanced security
Exercise caution while granting permissions to applications

Patching and Updates

Apple has released patches for the affected products that address the vulnerability. Users are advised to promptly install these updates to safeguard their devices.