# CVE-2021-1813: Privilege escalation in iOS and iPadOS

> A malicious application can gain root privileges on Apple operating systems due to a validation issue, requiring users to apply security updates.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2f3m-7p38-8gpp

## What is CVE-2021-1813?

CVE-2021-1813 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 8 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A validation issue was addressed with improved logic. This issue is fixed in Security Update 2021-002 Catalina, Security Update 2021-003 Mojave, iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4, tvOS 14.5, macOS Big Sur 11.3. A malicious application may be able to gain root privileges.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1813?

It affects 6 products.


Products: Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Macos, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-1813?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-1813 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-1813 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1813 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipados

- [CVE-2025-43300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43300/): Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24201/): Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24085/): Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31200](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31200/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31201/): Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-1813 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-1813 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 8 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-1813 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Ipados. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1813/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1813/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-1813
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1813
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-1813

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1813/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.