Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-30976 is an Apple macOS Gatekeeper bypass. A malicious app could avoid Gatekeeper checks, reducing a core protection that helps stop untrusted software from running. Apple fixed the issue in macOS Monterey 12.1, Security Update 2021-008 Catalina, and macOS Big Sur 11.6.2.
Executive priority
Treat this as a patch-compliance priority for macOS fleets, especially user workstations that receive downloaded software. Urgency is lower than a confirmed exploited remote vulnerability, but delayed patching weakens endpoint defenses against malicious apps.
Technical view
Apple describes this as a logic issue fixed with improved state management. The documented impact is that a malicious application may bypass Gatekeeper checks. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, affected version ranges, exploit details, or proof of active exploitation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to macOS systems that have not installed Monterey 12.1, Security Update 2021-008 Catalina, or Big Sur 11.6.2. The provided sources do not define exact vulnerable version ranges beyond those fixed releases.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The risk depends on a malicious application reaching and running on a macOS endpoint, where Gatekeeper bypass could weaken normal user protection against untrusted apps.
Researcher notes
The source bundle is sparse: no CVSS vector, CWE, vulnerable version range, exploit primitives, or root-cause detail beyond a state-management logic issue. Analysis should stay anchored to Apple’s stated Gatekeeper bypass impact and fixed release list.
Mitigation direction
- Update macOS Monterey systems to 12.1 or later.
- Apply Security Update 2021-008 on supported Catalina systems.
- Update Big Sur systems to 11.6.2 or later.
- Confirm Apple guidance for any unsupported or legacy macOS fleet.
- Use MDM controls to restrict untrusted app execution where possible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS versions across managed and unmanaged endpoints.
- Confirm installed security updates match Apple’s fixed releases.
- Review MDM compliance reports for outdated macOS devices.
- Check endpoint telemetry for recent untrusted application execution alerts.
- Verify Gatekeeper remains enabled on managed macOS systems.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2021-30976 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212978CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212979CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212981CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.