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TI-2026-36437 Aliases CVE-2026-49237

Local Privilege Escalation in Canonical Multipass

Priority LOW 35CWE-276Published · 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
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

An issue was discovered in Canonical Multipass for macOS before version 1.16.3 due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2025-5199. While the patch in version 1.16.0 updated the ownership of the multipassd daemon binary to root:wheel, five co-located binaries (multipass, qemu-img, qemu-system-aarch64, qemu-system-x86_64, and sshfs_server) in /Library/Application Support/com.canonical.multipass/bin/ retain ownership by the installing user and remain writable. Because the root LaunchDaemon (com.canonical.multipassd.plist) configures a PATH environment variable that prioritizes this user-writable directory and invokes these auxiliary binaries by their bare names, a local attacker can replace an auxiliary binary (such as qemu-img) with a malicious wrapper. When the root daemon subsequently triggers the binary during routine execution (e.g., via multipass launch), the malicious code executes with root privileges, leading to local privilege escalation.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00141 3rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Multipass (Canonical): 1.16.3

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
CanonicalMultipassbefore 1.16.31.16.3Patch availableCNA
  • Multipass VendorCanonical Affected before 1.16.3 Fixed in 1.16.3 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:canonical:multipass:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 1.16.3VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onApple
  • cpe:2.3:a:canonical:multipass:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.16.3 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Multipass (Canonical) Fixed in 1.16.3

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    Canonical Multipass 1.16.3

    2 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 1 HIGH, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2026-36438 SFTP Server VM Escape in Canonical MultipassPriority HIGH 72
    Show all 2 records →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-49237

References

Exploit 1

  • TI-2026-36438 SFTP Server VM Escape in Canonical Multipass CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2025-04665 LPE on Multipass for macOS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2021-02680 MacOS version of Multipass incorrect owner for application directory CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-02572 Windows version of Multipass unauthenticated localhost tcp control socket can perform mounts CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8

Sources

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