CVE-2020-17400: Parallels Desktop prl_hypervisor Out-Of-Bounds Read 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 read past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-11304.

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 read past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the hypervisor.

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 for this Parallels Desktop vulnerability?

The vulnerability ID for this Parallels Desktop vulnerability is CVE-2020-17400.

2

What is the severity level of CVE-2020-17400?

CVE-2020-17400 has a severity level of 8.8 (high).

3

How does the vulnerability CVE-2020-17400 allow privilege escalation?

CVE-2020-17400 allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.4 by executing low-privileged code on the target system.

4

What software versions of Parallels Desktop are affected by CVE-2020-17400?

CVE-2020-17400 affects Parallels Desktop versions up to exclusive 16.0.0.

5

How can I fix CVE-2020-17400?

To fix CVE-2020-17400, update your Parallels Desktop installation to a version beyond 16.0.0.

Contact

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