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Waves Central CVE-2026-86819

| EUVDEUVD-2026-74192 HIGH
Missing Authorization (CWE-862)
2026-09-08 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725 GHSA-pvv8-qxr5-pq93
8.4
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725
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Severity by source

Vendor (9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725) PRIMARY
8.4 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
vuln.today AI
7.1 HIGH

Local access with standard user account (PR:L), no complexity or interaction; root script execution yields C:H/I:H; A:N as helper process availability is unaffected by the exploit.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725).

CVSS VectorVendor: 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
X

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Analysis Generated
Sep 08, 2026 - 21:47 vuln.today
Patch available
Sep 08, 2026 - 21:35 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 08, 2026 - 21:18 cve.org
HIGH 8.4

DescriptionCVE.org

Waves Central for macOS contains a local privilege escalation in the privileged helper service. The helper authorizes connecting XPC clients by comparing the caller's code-signing certificate chain for equality with its own, rather than validating the caller against a pinned code requirement (application identifier and Team ID). A local, authenticated user can execute code within the vendor-signed process, satisfy the helper's client check, and cause the helper to execute a script with root privileges. Fixed in 17.0.

AnalysisAI

Local privilege escalation in Waves Central for macOS (versions up to 16.6.2) allows any authenticated local user to gain root code execution by abusing a flawed XPC client authorization scheme in the product's privileged helper service. The helper validates connecting XPC clients by performing a certificate-chain equality comparison against itself rather than enforcing a pinned code requirement (application identifier and Apple Team ID), meaning any process carrying the Waves signing certificate can impersonate a legitimate client and instruct the helper to run arbitrary scripts as root. …

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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata

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Delivery
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Exploit
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Execution
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Vulnerability AssessmentAI

Exploitation Exploitation requires an authenticated local user account on a macOS system (PR:L) running Waves Central with the privileged helper service active. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment.
Risk Assessment The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.4 (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N) accurately reflects the real-world risk profile: a local, authenticated standard user can escalate to root with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in.
Exploit Scenario Full exploit scenario with step-by-step reproduction available after sign-in.
Remediation Upgrade Waves Central to version 17.0 or later, which contains the vendor-released fix for the XPC client authorization flaw, as documented in the vendor release notes at https://www.waves.com/downloads/release-notes#v17 and the CISA CSAF advisory va-26-251-02. … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report.

Recommended ActionAI

Within 24 hours, enumerate all macOS systems running Waves Central versions 16.6.2 and earlier using endpoint management or inventory tools, prioritizing audio production and creative workstations. …

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CVE-2026-86819 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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