Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-31004 is an Apple macOS race-condition flaw that could let an application gain elevated privileges. Apple says it was fixed with improved locking in macOS Big Sur 11.5 and macOS Monterey 12.0.1. No provided source confirms active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as routine but important endpoint hygiene. It is a privilege-escalation issue, so it matters most where an attacker can already run code or persuade users to run applications. Patch through normal macOS update channels.
Technical view
The issue is described as a race condition in macOS, addressed by improved locking. The stated impact is local privilege elevation by an application. The sources do not provide CVSS, CWE, affected component details, exploit prerequisites, or proof-of-concept information.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Apple macOS systems that have not received the relevant fixed releases, including Big Sur 11.5 or Monterey 12.0.1 where applicable. The bundle does not identify specific subcomponents or exact vulnerable version ranges.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not marked as CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation. The described impact requires an application context and could support post-compromise privilege escalation rather than remote initial access.
Researcher notes
Public detail is sparse. Apple attributes the fix to improved locking but does not name the affected subsystem in the provided advisories. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the stated local application privilege-elevation impact.
Mitigation direction
- Update eligible macOS systems to Big Sur 11.5, Monterey 12.0.1, or later supported releases.
- Check Apple security guidance for any environment-specific update instructions.
- Prioritize endpoints that run untrusted or user-installed applications.
- Maintain endpoint controls that restrict unauthorized application execution.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS endpoints and record installed major and minor versions.
- Confirm Big Sur systems are at 11.5 or later where still present.
- Confirm Monterey systems are at 12.0.1 or later where still present.
- Review endpoint management reports for unmanaged or stale macOS devices.
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-2021-31004 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
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/HT212602CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212869CVE 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.