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Parallels Desktop CVE-2020-17390

HIGH
Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125)
2020-08-25 zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, read limits
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A local attacker with access to the system could read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.5% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate array indices and buffer lengths. Use memory-safe languages. Enable AddressSanitizer during testing.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125), which allows attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the hypervisor kernel extension. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a read past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-10030. Affected products include: Parallels Parallels Desktop.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the hypervisor kernel extension. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a read past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-10030.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.5%
Top 59% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.5%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:parallels:parallels_desktop:*:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
CVE-2025-31359 HIGH POC
8.8 Jun 03

Directory traversal vulnerability in Parallels Desktop for Mac version 20.2.2 (build 55879) affecting the PVMP package u

CVE-2024-54189 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 03

Privilege escalation vulnerability in Parallels Desktop for Mac version 20.1.1 (build 55740) where the snapshot function

CVE-2024-36486 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 03

Privilege escalation vulnerability in Parallels Desktop for Mac 20.1.1 that allows a local attacker with user-level priv

CVE-2024-52561 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 03

Privilege escalation vulnerability in Parallels Desktop for Mac version 20.1.1 (build 55740) affecting the Snapshot dele

CVE-2024-6240 CRITICAL
10.0 Jun 21

Improper privilege management vulnerability in Parallels Desktop Software, which affects versions earlier than 19.3.0. R

CVE-2022-34890 HIGH
8.8 Jul 18

This vulnerability allows local attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of Parallels Deskt

CVE-2021-34864 HIGH
8.8 Oct 25

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.3 (

CVE-2021-34857 HIGH
8.8 Oct 25

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.3 (

CVE-2021-34856 HIGH
8.8 Oct 25

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.3 (

CVE-2021-31426 HIGH
8.8 Apr 29

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.2-4

CVE-2021-31425 HIGH
8.8 Apr 29

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.2-4

CVE-2021-31424 HIGH
8.8 Apr 29

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.5-4

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