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TI-2022-03159 Aliases CVE-2022-3421GHSA-g3jf-h663-mqrx

Privilege escalation in Google Drive for Desktop on MacOS

Priority LOW 31CWE-264Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass, Privilege escalation
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-264 and CWE-269.

Summary

An attacker can pre-create the `/Applications/Google\ Drive.app/Contents/MacOS` directory which is expected to be owned by root to be owned by a non-root user. When the Drive for Desktop installer is run for the first time, it will place a binary in that directory with execute permissions and set its setuid bit. Since the attacker owns the directory, the attacker can replace the binary with a symlink, causing the installer to set the setuid bit on the symlink. When the symlink is executed, it will run with root permissions. We recommend upgrading past version 64.0

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00124 2nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Drive for Desktop MacOS (Google LLC): 64.0

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
GoogleDrive for Desktop MacOSbefore 64.064.0Patch availableCNA
  • Drive for Desktop MacOS VendorGoogle Affected before 64.0 Fixed in 64.0 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:google:drive:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 64.0VulnerableGoogle
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onApple
  • cpe:2.3:a:google:drive:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 64.0 Vulnerable ·Google
  • cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Drive for Desktop MacOS (Google LLC) Fixed in 64.0

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-3421
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g3jf-h663-mqrx

References

Advisory 1

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences