CVE-2020-17396: Parallels Desktop prl_hypervisor Integer Overflow Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Aug 25, 2020
·
Updated

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.4. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the prlhypervisor module. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in an integer overflow before allocating a buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the kernel. Was ZDI-CAN-11217.

Other sources

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the prlhypervisor module. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in an integer overflow before allocating a buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the kernel.

Affected Software

2 affected components
Parallels Parallels Desktop Macos<16.0.0
Parallels Desktop

Event History

Aug 25, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:20 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:20 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Mar 24, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·07:01 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2020-17396?

CVE-2020-17396 is a vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.4.

2

How can this vulnerability be exploited?

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system.

3

What is the affected software?

The affected software is Parallels Desktop 15.1.4.

4

How do I fix CVE-2020-17396?

To fix CVE-2020-17396, update to a version later than 16.0.0 of Parallels Desktop.

5

What is the severity of CVE-2020-17396?

The severity of CVE-2020-17396 is high, with a CVSS score of 8.8.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203