How severe is CVE-2021-30997?

CVE-2021-30997 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2021-30997 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (48th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-30997?

CVE-2021-30997 primarily affects Apple Ipados. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-30997?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-30997 published?

CVE-2021-30997 was published on 2021-08-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-30997

CVE-2021-30997 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Ipados with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-312.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 5.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (48th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-312
Affected product: Apple Ipados
Published: 2021-08-24
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A S/MIME issue existed in the handling of encrypted email. This issue was addressed by not automatically loading some MIME parts. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2. An attacker may be able to recover plaintext contents of an S/MIME-encrypted e-mail.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-30997?: A S/MIME issue existed in the handling of encrypted email. This issue was addressed by not automatically loading some MIME parts. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2. An attacker may be able to recover plaintext contents of an S/MIME-encrypted e-mail.
How severe is CVE-2021-30997?: CVE-2021-30997 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2021-30997 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (48th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-30997?: CVE-2021-30997 primarily affects Apple Ipados. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-30997?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-30997 published?: CVE-2021-30997 was published on 2021-08-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212976

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:o:apple:ipados:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:apple:iphone_os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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