CVE-2021-28648: Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac Improper Access Control Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Apr 22, 2021
·
Updated

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac. 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 com.trendmicro.AFM.HelperTool. The issue results from improper access control. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of root.

Other sources

Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac 2020 v10.5 and 2021 v11 (Consumer) is vulnerable to an improper access control privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow an attacker to establish a connection that could lead to full local privilege escalation within the application. Please note that an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system to exploit this vulnerability.

Affected Software

3 affected components
Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac
trendmicro Antivirus Macos>=10.5<10.5.2088
trendmicro Antivirus Macos>=11.0<11.0.2062

Event History

Apr 22, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·09:21 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·09:21 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Jan 29, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·09:04 AM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2021-28648?

CVE-2021-28648 is a vulnerability in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac that allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations.

2

How does the vulnerability in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac occur?

The vulnerability occurs due to an improper access control issue within com.trendmicro.antivirus allowing the execution of low-privileged code.

3

What is the severity of CVE-2021-28648?

The severity of CVE-2021-28648 is high, with a CVSS score of 7.8.

4

Which versions of Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac are affected by CVE-2021-28648?

Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac versions 10.5.2088 to 11.0.2062 are affected by CVE-2021-28648.

5

How can I fix the vulnerability in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac?

To fix the vulnerability, it is recommended to update Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac to a version that is not affected by CVE-2021-28648.

Contact

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