Parallels Desktop Updater Improper Initialization Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Parallels Desktop Updater Improper Initialization Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. 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 host system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the Updater service. The issue results from the lack of proper initialization of environment variables. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of root. . Was ZDI-CAN-18253.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Parallels Desktop — vendor-provided URL
7 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 6 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2023-12061 Path traversal in Parallels DesktopPriority MEDIUM 40
- TI-2023-12063 XML injection in Parallels DesktopPriority LOW 36
- TI-2023-12059 Parallels Desktop Updater Improper Initialization Local Privilege Escalation VulnerabilityPriority LOW 36
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-27325
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-28h6-qj9x-44jv
References
Advisory 2
More Parallels Desktop vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-22549 Path traversal in Parallels Desktop for Mac CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-36288 Link following in Parallels Desktop for Mac CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2024-35227 Link following in Parallels Desktop for Mac CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2024-24264 Link following in Parallels Desktop for Mac CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2024-05787 Improper privilege management in Parallels Desktop CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2023-12061 Path traversal in Parallels Desktop CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.2
Sources
- CVE-2023-27325 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-27325 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-28h6-qj9x-44jv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences