# CVE-2021-30968: Security feature bypass in iOS and iPadOS

> A malicious application can bypass privacy preferences due to a hard link validation issue in Apple operating systems.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **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:** 24 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024

## What is CVE-2021-30968?

CVE-2021-30968 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 24 Aug 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 related to hard link behavior was addressed with improved sandbox restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.6.2, tvOS 15.2, macOS Monterey 12.1, Security Update 2021-008 Catalina, iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2, watchOS 8.3. A malicious application may be able to bypass certain Privacy preferences.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-30968?

It affects 5 products.


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

## How do I fix CVE-2021-30968?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-30968 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-30968 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-30968 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Iphone Os

- [CVE-2021-30666](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30666/): Apple iOS WebKit Buffer Overflow (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30761](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30761/): Apple iOS WebKit Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30762](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30762/): Apple iOS WebKit Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-4657](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4657/): Apple iOS Webkit Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-7286](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7286/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-30968 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-30968 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Iphone Os, published on 24 Aug 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-2021-30968 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Iphone Os. 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-2021-30968/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30968/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-30968
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-30968
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-30968

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30968/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.