CVE-2020-17399: Parallels Desktop prl_hypervisor Out-Of-Bounds Write 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 kext. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the kernel. Was ZDI-CAN-11303.

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 kext. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated 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 the vulnerability ID?

The vulnerability ID is CVE-2020-17399.

2

What is the title of the vulnerability?

The title of the vulnerability is 'Parallels Desktop prl_hypervisor Out-Of-Bounds Write Privilege Escalation Vulnerability'.

3

What is the severity of CVE-2020-17399?

The severity of CVE-2020-17399 is high with a CVSS score of 8.8.

4

Which software is affected by CVE-2020-17399?

The affected software is Parallels Desktop version 15.1.4 up to exclusive version 16.0.0 for macOS.

5

How can I fix the vulnerability?

To fix the vulnerability, you should update Parallels Desktop to a version higher than 16.0.0.

Contact

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