Read the docs
TI-2024-24264 Aliases CVE-2024-36486GHSA-w3cx-68mp-rwcw

Link following in Parallels Desktop for Mac

Priority HIGH 69CWE-62Published · Updated

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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the virtual machine archive restoration functionality of Parallels Desktop for Mac version 20.1.1 (55740). When an archived virtual machine is restored, the prl_vmarchiver tool decompresses the file and writes the content back to its original location using root privileges. An attacker can exploit this process by using a hard link to write to an arbitrary file, potentially resulting in privilege escalation.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00337 27th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ParallelsParallels Desktop for Macversion 20.1.1 (55740)—No fix listedCNA
  • Parallels Desktop for Mac VendorParallels Affected version 20.1.1 (55740) Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:parallels:parallels_desktop:20.1.1_\(55740\):*:*:*:*:macos:*:*20.1.1_(55740)VulnerableParallels
  • cpe:2.3:a:parallels:parallels_desktop:20.1.1_\(55740\):*:*:*:*:macos:*:* Versions 20.1.1_(55740) Vulnerable ·Parallels

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-36486
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w3cx-68mp-rwcw

References

Exploit 2

  • 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-2024-05787 Improper privilege management in Parallels Desktop CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2023-12061 Path traversal in Parallels Desktop CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2023-27459 Out-of-bounds write in Parallels Desktop CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.3
See all 73 →

Sources

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