Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Apple issue can be triggered when a device processes a malicious USD file. Apple says the result may be an application crash or arbitrary code execution. The available sources name fixed Apple OS releases, but do not provide CVSS scoring or evidence of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for managed Apple fleets that handle external files, especially creative, design, engineering, or review workflows. The business risk is endpoint compromise from malicious file processing, but urgency is reduced by the lack of cited active exploitation evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2021-30979 is a buffer overflow in Apple handling of USD files. Apple addressed it with improved memory handling in iOS/iPadOS 15.2, macOS Monterey 12.1, macOS Big Sur 11.6.2, and Security Update 2021-008 Catalina. Exact vulnerable version ranges are not specified in the provided data.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Apple macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices below the named fixed releases that can process USD files. The bundle does not identify exact vulnerable build ranges, affected applications, or default exposure paths.
Exploitation context
The source bundle supports user-assisted exploitation through processing a maliciously crafted USD file. It does not support claims of active exploitation: KEV is false, and no cited source in the bundle states exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Key gaps are missing CVSS, CWE, exact vulnerable versions, affected parser or application details, and exploitability conditions beyond USD file processing. Treat this as Apple OS-level file parsing risk and validate through patch state rather than attempting exploit reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Update iOS and iPadOS devices to 15.2 or later.
- Update macOS Monterey systems to 12.1 or later.
- Update macOS Big Sur systems to 11.6.2 or later.
- Apply Security Update 2021-008 on Catalina systems.
- Limit handling of untrusted USD files until affected Apple systems are updated.
- Track Apple guidance for any product-specific follow-up.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Apple endpoints and record exact OS versions.
- Confirm iOS and iPadOS devices are on 15.2 or later.
- Confirm Monterey systems are on 12.1 or later.
- Confirm Big Sur systems are on 11.6.2 or later.
- Confirm Catalina systems have Security Update 2021-008 installed.
- Review exposure to workflows that receive or open USD files.
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.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-30979 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/HT212976CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- 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
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-358/CVE 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.