CVE-2021-30980 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
** REJECT ** DO NOT USE THIS CANDIDATE NUMBER. ConsultIDs: none. Reason: This candidate was withdrawn by the CVE program. Notes: none.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2026
This CVE entry represents a withdrawn candidate number from the CVE program, indicating that the vulnerability identification was subsequently rejected or removed from the official database. Such rejections typically occur when the initial vulnerability assessment proves to be inaccurate, insufficiently documented, or when the reported issue does not meet the criteria for CVE assignment. The withdrawal process demonstrates the rigorous validation mechanisms within the CVE program where entries undergo review and may be rejected if they fail to meet established standards for vulnerability reporting. When a CVE candidate is withdrawn, it signifies that the security community has determined that either the reported vulnerability does not exist as described, or that the reporting was inadequate to warrant a formal CVE designation.
The withdrawal of CVE candidates reflects the importance of maintaining data integrity within vulnerability databases and ensures that only properly validated security issues receive official CVE identification. This process prevents the propagation of inaccurate information that could mislead security professionals, researchers, and organizations in their vulnerability management activities. The CVE program's withdrawal mechanism serves as a quality control measure that maintains the credibility and reliability of the vulnerability identification system. Organizations relying on CVE data can trust that withdrawn candidates were thoroughly evaluated and found lacking in their initial assessment or documentation.
Withdrawn CVE candidates may have originated from various sources including initial researcher reports, automated scanning tools, or preliminary vulnerability assessments that were later determined to be false positives or misinterpretations of security behavior. The CVE program's withdrawal process typically involves review by designated authorities who evaluate whether the reported issue warrants a CVE number based on established criteria including the presence of a security vulnerability, proper documentation, and sufficient evidence of impact. When candidates are withdrawn, they are removed from public CVE listings to prevent confusion and maintain the database's accuracy. This process ensures that security teams and vulnerability management systems are not misled by invalid or unverified vulnerability reports.
The implications of withdrawn CVE candidates extend beyond simple database cleanup as they represent a form of quality assurance within the vulnerability management ecosystem. These withdrawals demonstrate the collaborative nature of vulnerability identification where multiple experts review and validate reported security issues. The CVE program's approach to handling withdrawn candidates maintains the trust of security professionals who depend on official vulnerability identifiers for their risk assessments and remediation planning. The withdrawal process also serves as an educational mechanism, helping researchers understand what constitutes sufficient evidence for CVE assignment and proper vulnerability reporting standards. Organizations should monitor CVE program communications for withdrawn candidates as these withdrawals can indicate evolving understanding of security issues or highlight problems in initial vulnerability assessment methodologies.
Industry standards and frameworks such as those defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) and MITRE ATT&CK matrix do not typically reference withdrawn CVE candidates as they represent invalid or unverified vulnerability reports. The CWE database focuses on documented weaknesses and vulnerabilities that have been properly validated and categorized. Similarly, ATT&CK framework entries are based on verified adversary techniques and threat behaviors rather than unvalidated CVE candidates. Security practitioners should understand that withdrawn CVE numbers are not part of the official vulnerability landscape and should not be included in vulnerability management systems or security assessments. The withdrawal of CVE candidates reinforces the importance of using only officially assigned and validated vulnerability identifiers for security operations and incident response activities.