Mullvad VPN for macOS: Local Privilege Escalation via unverified bundle path in installer
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation, Security bypass, Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269, CWE-345 and CWE-427.
Summary
Mullvad VPN is a VPN client app for desktop and mobile. When using macOS with versions 2026.1 and below, Mullvad VPN may allow local privilege escalation during installation or upgrade. The installer package executes binaries from /Applications/Mullvad VPN.app without verifying if the bundle is attacker-controlled or that the path is the legitimate Mullvad application. A user in the admin group can pre-place a crafted application bundle at that location and may be able to achieve code execution as root. Since the issue only affected the installer, there is no immediate need for users to update if they are already running an older version. This issue has been fixed in version 2026.2-beta1.
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
- Fix · CNA mullvadvpn-app (mullvad) Fixed in 2026.2-beta1
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-32323
References
More Mullvad Vpn vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-27592 An issue was discovered in Mullvad VPN Windows app before 2023.6-beta1. CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences