Apple watchOS up to 8.4.2 libarchive memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple watchOS up to 8.4.2. It has been rated as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component libarchive. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2021-36976. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple watchOS up to 8.4.2 (Smartwatch Operating System) and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown function of the component libarchive. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was shared 03/14/2022 as HT213193 as confirmed advisory (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at support.apple.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2021-36976. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The advisory points out:

Multiple issues in libarchive

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 210823 (Debian dla-3950 : libarchive-dev - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 8.5 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. The advisory contains the following remark:

Multiple memory corruption issues existed in libarchive. These issues were addressed with improved input validation.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (210823). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Vendor

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Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 6.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 210823
Nessus Name: Debian dla-3950 : libarchive-dev - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: watchOS 8.5

Timelineinfo

07/20/2021 🔍
03/14/2022 +237 days 🔍
03/14/2022 +0 days 🔍
03/15/2022 +1 days 🔍
11/04/2025 +1330 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: HT213193
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2021-36976 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2021-36976
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-194999

Entryinfo

Created: 03/15/2022 09:24
Updated: 11/04/2025 06:42
Changes: 03/15/2022 09:24 (16), 03/15/2022 09:25 (2), 03/15/2022 09:28 (27), 03/17/2022 10:16 (2), 03/17/2022 10:21 (18), 11/13/2024 04:21 (16), 05/01/2025 16:16 (3), 11/04/2025 06:42 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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