CVE-2021-31421

Arbitrary file deletion via unvalidated Toolgate paths

Published Apr 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in Toolgate in Parallels Desktop 16.1.1-49141 allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a crafted path. Toolgate accepts a user-supplied path for file operations without validating that it remains within an allowed directory. Exploitation requires high-privileged code execution in a guest system and deletes files in the hypervisor context.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Toolgate in Parallels Desktop 16.1.1-49141 allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a crafted path. Toolgate accepts a user-supplied path for file operations without validating that it remains within an allowed directory. Exploitation requires high-privileged code execution in a guest system and deletes files in the hypervisor context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31421
Published
Apr 29, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Parallels
Product
Parallels Desktop
Classifications
CWE-22, T1083, T1070.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 29, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=16.1.1-49141

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Parallels · Parallels Desktopversion=16.1.1-49141

Published CVSS scores

6.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
3.2Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1083File and Directory Discovery
T1070.004File Deletion

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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