macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 Fixes Root Access Sudo Bug - MacRumors
Skip to Content

macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 Fixes Root Access Sudo Bug

The macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 update that Apple released today fixes a sudo security vulnerability that could allow an attacker to gain root access to a Mac.

sudo bug macos
According to an Apple security support document, the bug, CVE-2021-3156, was addressed in the update by updating to sudo version 1.9.5p2. Apple has also fixed the bug in Supplemental Updates made available for macOS Catalina 10.15.7 and macOS Mojave 10.14.6.

The updates also include fixes for two bugs that could allow an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Discovered last week, the vulnerability triggers a "heap overflow" in sudo that changes the current user's privileges to enable root-level access, giving an attacker access to the entire system.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Apple Business hero

Apple Unveils 'Apple Business' All-in-One Platform

Tuesday March 24, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that unifies device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach features. The service is designed to be a consolidated replacement for several of Apple's existing business-focused offerings, including Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. It provides organizations with a single...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...

Top Rated Comments

67 months ago

Is Apple the first? Did other Unix and Linux push out the update too?
Most major Linux distros have already fixed it.

Examples:
https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-3156
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2021-3156
https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3156/
https://bodhi.fedoraproject.org/updates/FEDORA-2021-2cb63d912a
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
luvbug Avatar
67 months ago
Thank you! Much more than a charging bug, for sure.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
67 months ago

Now if it could just come standard with allowing us to use TouchID instead of typing our password.
You know that you can enable this feature. Unfortunately, it has to be re-enabled after each update.

https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/enabling-touch-id-authorization-for-sudo-on-macos-high-sierra/
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ruka.snow Avatar
67 months ago
Fantastic. Unlikely to affect me but still good to have the furniture nailed down.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
67 months ago

Reminds me of High Sierra. Waiting for the login “root” user access now. :p
I admit I thought of that, too. However, "sudo" is a utility found throughout unix/Linux systems. This was therefore not an "Apple" bug, but rather an update that had to come from upstream :-)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rafterman Avatar
67 months ago
Thanks Apple for yet another reboot. Get it right the first time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)