📄 Description (English)
Apple Multiple Products Integer Overflow Vulnerability — Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS CoreGraphics contain an integer overflow vulnerability which may allow code execution when processing a maliciously crafted PDF. The vulnerability is also known under the moniker of FORCEDENTRY.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2021-30860 (FORCEDENTRY) is a critical integer overflow vulnerability in Apple CoreGraphics affecting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted PDFs. With a CVSS score of 9.0 and publicly available exploits, this vulnerability poses an immediate threat to Saudi organizations relying on Apple devices for business operations. Immediate patching is essential as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction beyond opening a PDF.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 20, 2026 15:29
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government agencies (NCA oversight), healthcare organizations, and energy sector (ARAMCO and subsidiaries) that utilize Apple devices for executive communications and document processing. The FORCEDENTRY exploit was documented in targeted attacks against high-value individuals, making it particularly relevant for Saudi C-suite executives, government officials, and critical infrastructure personnel. Telecom operators (STC, Mobily, Zain) managing Apple-based infrastructure are also at elevated risk. The ability to achieve code execution through PDF attachments in email makes this especially dangerous in enterprise environments.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services (SAMA-regulated)
Government and Public Administration (NCA oversight)
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Oil & Gas (ARAMCO, subsidiaries)
Telecommunications (STC, Mobily, Zain)
Critical Infrastructure
Defense and Security
Education and Research Institutions
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment
T1204.002 - User Execution: Malicious File
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution
T1055 - Process Injection
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell
T1083 - File and Directory Discovery
T1005 - Data from Local System
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches) in your organization using Mobile Device Management (MDM) or asset inventory tools
2. Disable PDF preview functionality in email clients (Outlook, Gmail) until patching is complete
3. Implement email gateway rules to block or quarantine PDF attachments from external sources
4. Alert users not to open PDF attachments from untrusted sources
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Deploy iOS 14.7 or later immediately to all iPhones and iPads
2. Update macOS to 11.5 or later (Big Sur) or 10.15.7 (Catalina) with security update
3. Update watchOS to 7.6 or later
4. Prioritize patching for devices used by high-value targets (executives, government officials, critical infrastructure staff)
5. Use MDM to enforce automatic updates where possible
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Restrict PDF file handling to sandboxed applications only
2. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution
3. Use Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solutions with behavioral analysis
4. Monitor for suspicious process execution following PDF access
5. Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if compromise occurs
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for unexpected child processes spawned from PDF readers (Preview, Adobe Reader)
2. Alert on PDF files with embedded executable content or suspicious scripts
3. Track CoreGraphics library calls with unusual memory allocation patterns
4. Monitor for privilege escalation attempts following PDF processing
5. Implement YARA rules to detect FORCEDENTRY payload signatures in network traffic
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع أجهزة Apple (iPhones و iPads و Macs و Apple Watches) في المنظمة باستخدام أدوات إدارة الأجهزة المحمولة أو قوائم الجرد
2. تعطيل وظيفة معاينة PDF في عملاء البريد الإلكتروني حتى اكتمال التصحيح
3. تطبيق قواعد بوابة البريد الإلكتروني لحظر أو عزل مرفقات PDF من مصادر خارجية
4. تنبيه المستخدمين بعدم فتح مرفقات PDF من مصادر غير موثوقة
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. نشر iOS 14.7 أو أحدث فوراً على جميع iPhones و iPads
2. تحديث macOS إلى 11.5 أو أحدث (Big Sur) أو 10.15.7 (Catalina) مع تحديث الأمان
3. تحديث watchOS إلى 7.6 أو أحدث
4. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح الأجهزة المستخدمة من قبل الأهداف ذات القيمة العالية
5. استخدام MDM لفرض التحديثات التلقائية حيث أمكن
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تقييد معالجة ملفات PDF للتطبيقات المعزولة فقط
2. تطبيق قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ أكواد غير مصرح بها
3. استخدام حلول Mobile Threat Defense مع التحليل السلوكي
4. مراقبة تنفيذ العمليات المريبة بعد الوصول إلى PDF
5. تطبيق قواعد YARA للكشف عن توقيعات حمولة FORCEDENTRY
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة العمليات الفرعية غير المتوقعة التي تنبثق من قارئات PDF
2. التنبيه على ملفات PDF التي تحتوي على محتوى قابل للتنفيذ أو نصوص مريبة
3. تتبع استدعاءات مكتبة CoreGraphics بأنماط تخصيص ذاكرة غير عادية
4. مراقبة محاولات تصعيد الامتيازات بعد معالجة PDF
5. تطبيق قواعد YARA للكشف عن توقيعات الحمولة في حركة المرور
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
ECC 2024 A.6.1.1 - Access Control and Authentication
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - Asset Management and Inventory
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change Management and Patch Management
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.RA-1 - Asset Management and Inventory
SAMA CSF ID.RA-2 - Vulnerability Management
SAMA CSF PR.IP-12 - Software Development and Change Management
SAMA CSF DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability Scanning and Assessment
SAMA CSF RS.MI-2 - Incident Response and Recovery
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - Asset Management
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.3 - Segregation of Duties
ISO 27001:2022 A.14.2 - System Development and Change Management
ISO 27001:2022 A.16.1 - Planning of Information Security Incident Management
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security Patches and Updates
PCI DSS 11.2 - Vulnerability Scanning
PCI DSS 12.2 - Configuration Standards
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Apple:Multiple Products