# CVE-2021-31010: Apple iOS, macOS, watchOS Sandbox Bypass

> A deserialization flaw allows sandboxed processes to bypass restrictions, potentially leading to privilege escalation or code execution on Apple devices.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 Aug 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025

## What is CVE-2021-31010?

CVE-2021-31010 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 24 Aug 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A deserialization issue was addressed through improved validation. This issue is fixed in Security Update 2021-005 Catalina, iOS 12.5.5, iOS 14.8 and iPadOS 14.8, macOS Big Sur 11.6, watchOS 7.6.2. A sandboxed process may be able to circumvent sandbox restrictions. Apple was aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited at the time of release..

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-31010?

It affects 5 products.


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

## How do I fix CVE-2021-31010?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-31010 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Sep 2022.

## Is CVE-2021-31010 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-31010 in the wild since at least 25 Aug 2022.

## 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-2021-31010 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-31010 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 24 Aug 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-31010 in the wild since at least 25 Aug 2022.

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-2021-31010/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31010/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-31010
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31010
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-31010

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31010/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.