CVE-2021-30998 : Security Advisory and Response
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-30998, a security flaw in iOS and iPadOS allowing leakage of sender's email addresses via S/MIME encrypted emails. Learn how to mitigate and prevent this vulnerability.
A security vulnerability was identified in iOS and iPadOS, affecting versions earlier than 15.2. This vulnerability allowed the leakage of a sender's email address when sending S/MIME encrypted emails using a certificate with multiple email addresses.
Understanding CVE-2021-30998
This CVE-2021-30998 relates to a specific vulnerability in the handling of encrypted emails in iOS and iPadOS.
What is CVE-2021-30998?
CVE-2021-30998 is a security flaw in iOS and iPadOS that could lead to the exposure of a sender's email address while sending S/MIME encrypted emails with certain certificates.
The Impact of CVE-2021-30998
The impact of this vulnerability is the potential disclosure of sensitive information, the sender's email address, compromising the privacy and security of users.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-30998
This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in the handling of encrypted emails in iOS and iPadOS versions lower than 15.2 could result in the unintended disclosure of the sender's email address.
Affected Systems and Versions
iOS and iPadOS custom versions preceding 15.2 are affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by sending S/MIME encrypted emails using a certificate with multiple email addresses to expose the sender's email address.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2021-30998, users and organizations should take immediate and long-term security measures.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade affected devices to iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2
- Avoid sending S/MIME encrypted emails with certificates containing multiple email addresses
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update devices with the latest security patches
- Implement secure encryption practices to protect sensitive information
Patching and Updates
Ensure consistent monitoring of security updates and install patches promptly to mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future.