CVE-2021-30807
Out-of-bounds Write in A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling
Executive Summary
CVE-2021-30807 is a high severity vulnerability affecting binary-analysis. It is classified as Out-of-bounds Write. This vulnerability is actively being exploited in the wild.
Precogs AI Insight
"A memory corruption issue in the IOMobileFrameBuffer kernel extension allows local privilege escalation. Attackers execute a specially crafted application to corrupt kernel memory and gain root access. Precogs Binary SAST detects hazardous input validation within graphics drivers."
What is this vulnerability?
CVE-2021-30807 is categorized as a high Out-of-bounds Write flaw with a CVSS base score of 7.8. Based on our vulnerability intelligence, this issue occurs when the application fails to securely handle untrusted data boundaries.
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, iOS 14.7.1 and iPadOS 14.7.1, watchOS 7.6.1. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
This architectural defect enables adversaries to bypass intended security controls, directly manipulating the application's execution state or data layer. Immediate strategic intervention is required.
Risk Assessment
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| CVSS Base Score | 7.8 (HIGH) |
| Vector String | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Published | October 19, 2021 |
| Last Modified | October 23, 2025 |
| Related CWEs | CWE-787, CWE-787 |
Impact on Systems
✅ Remote Code Execution: Attackers can overwrite the instruction pointer to redirect execution to malicious shellcode.
✅ Memory Corruption: Overwriting adjacent memory regions can corrupt critical application state, leading to privilege escalation.
✅ Denial of Service: Triggering segmentation faults results in immediate disruption of critical systems.
How to Fix and Mitigate CVE-2021-30807
- Apply Vendor Patches Immediately: This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Verify Patch Deployment: Confirm all instances are updated using Precogs continuous monitoring.
- Review Audit Logs: Investigate historical access logs for indicators of compromise related to this attack surface.
- Implement Defense-in-Depth: Deploy WAF rules, network segmentation, and endpoint detection to limit blast radius.
Defending with Precogs AI
A memory corruption issue in the IOMobileFrameBuffer kernel extension allows local privilege escalation. Attackers execute a specially crafted application to corrupt kernel memory and gain root access. Precogs Binary SAST detects hazardous input validation within graphics drivers.
Use Precogs to continuously scan your codebase, binaries, APIs, and infrastructure for this vulnerability class and related attack patterns. Our AI-powered detection engine combines static analysis with threat intelligence to identify exploitable weaknesses before attackers do.
Vulnerability Code Signature
Attack Data Flow
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Source | Network packet or file input |
| Vector | Data exceeds the allocated buffer bounds during a copy operation |
| Sink | strcpy(), memcpy(), or pointer arithmetic |
| Impact | Memory corruption, Remote Code Execution (RCE) |
Vulnerable Code Pattern
// ❌ VULNERABLE: Out-of-bounds write
void process_data(char *input) {
char buffer[64];
// Taint sink: copies without bounds checking
strcpy(buffer, input);
}
Secure Code Pattern
// ✅ SECURE: Bounded copy
void process_data(char *input) {
char buffer[64];
// Sanitized boundary check
strncpy(buffer, input, sizeof(buffer) - 1);
buffer[sizeof(buffer) - 1] = '\0';
}
How Precogs Detects This
Precogs Binary SAST engine explicitly uncovers memory boundary violations and unsafe memory management functions in compiled binaries.\n