CVE-2021-31424: Parallels Desktop OTG Heap-based Buffer Overflow Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Apr 29, 2021
·
Updated

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.5-47309. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target guest system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the Open Tools Gate component. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-12848.

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 guest system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the Open Tools Gate component. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the hypervisor.

Affected Software

2 affected components
Parallels Parallels Desktop=15.1.5-47309
Parallels Desktop

Event History

Apr 29, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·04:31 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·04:31 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Mar 24, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·07:01 PM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2021-31424?

CVE-2021-31424 is a vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.5-47309.

2

How can this vulnerability be exploited?

To exploit CVE-2021-31424, an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target guest system.

3

What is the severity of CVE-2021-31424?

The severity of CVE-2021-31424 is high with a score of 8.8.

4

How can I fix CVE-2021-31424?

To fix CVE-2021-31424, it is recommended to update to the latest version of Parallels Desktop.

5

Where can I find more information about CVE-2021-31424?

More information about CVE-2021-31424 can be found in the Parallels Knowledge Base article at https://kb.parallels.com/en/125013 and the Zero Day Initiative advisory at https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-434/.

Contact

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