CVE-2026-7574: Anthropic Claude Desktop Cowork VM Image Contents Not Validated Before Use
Anthropic Claude Desktop Cowork VM image handling (confirmed across v1.1348.0 through v1.2278.0, including v1.1348.0, v1.1617.0, and v1.2278.0) validates only file presence and a version marker string before booting rootfs.img, but does not verify image content integrity at time-of-use. A local attacker with unprivileged code execution as the victim macOS user can modify the VM root filesystem image and have it trusted on subsequent Cowork VM boots, enabling persistent arbitrary code execution in the VM and access to host-mounted directories. The estimated CWE mapping is CWE-353 (Missing Support for Integrity Check).
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-7574?
CVE-2026-7574 has a high severity rating of 8.7.
How do I fix CVE-2026-7574?
CVE-2026-7574 can be mitigated by implementing content integrity verification for VM images before use.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-7574?
CVE-2026-7574 affects Anthropic Claude Desktop Cowork versions from v1.1348.0 to v1.2278.0.
What are the implications of CVE-2026-7574?
The implications of CVE-2026-7574 include potential unauthorized access or manipulation of the VM image due to insufficient validation.
Is a workaround available for CVE-2026-7574?
Currently, a specific workaround for CVE-2026-7574 has not been documented, but users should avoid using untrusted VM images.