---
id: "CVE-2021-30869"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2021-30869"]
title: "Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS: Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Type Confusion Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.04135
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apple-devices", "exploited", "ios", "ipados", "macos", "vendor"]
not_affected_if: ["fully-patched-devices"]
published_at: "2021-08-24T19:15:15+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-30869", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-30869", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-30869", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS: Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Type Confusion Vulnerability

Apple iOS, iPadOS and macOS contain a type confusion bug in the XNU kernel. A malicious app running on the device can use it to execute code with kernel privileges.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

Check the installed OS version on each iPhone, iPad or Mac under Settings > General > About (or Apple menu > About This Mac) and compare it with Apple's fixed release.

## Fix

Update iOS, iPadOS and macOS to a release that includes Apple's fix for CVE-2021-30869, per the vendor instructions CISA references.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-30869
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-30869
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-30869

## From the sources

A type confusion issue was addressed with improved state handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.5.5, iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, macOS Big Sur 11.2, Security Update 2021-001 Catalina, Security Update 2021-001 Mojave, Security Update 2021-006 Catalina. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of reports that an exploit for this issue exists in the wild.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_