CVE-2021-34987: Parallels Desktop HDAudio Buffer Overflow Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Jul 15, 2022
·
Updated

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.5.1 (49187). An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target guest system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the HDAudio virtual device. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-14969.

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 high-privileged code on the target guest system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the HDAudio virtual device. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length 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 Macos=16.5.1
Parallels Desktop

Event History

Jul 15, 2022
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:05 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:05 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Mar 24, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·07:01 PM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2021-34987?

CVE-2021-34987 is a vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.5.1 (49187).

2

How can this vulnerability be exploited?

An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target guest system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

3

What is the severity of CVE-2021-34987?

The severity of CVE-2021-34987 is high, with a severity value of 8.2.

4

What software versions are affected by CVE-2021-34987?

CVE-2021-34987 affects Parallels Desktop 16.5.1.

5

How can I fix CVE-2021-34987?

To fix CVE-2021-34987, ensure you have the latest version of Parallels Desktop installed and follow any security recommendations provided by the vendor.

Contact

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