CVE-2021-43771

Root code execution via unprotected helper connection

Published Nov 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac 11.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. The com.trendmicro.AFM.HelperTool component accepts a local connection without enforcing adequate access controls on its privileged operations. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the target, after which the attacker gains root-context execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac 11.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. The com.trendmicro.AFM.HelperTool component accepts a local connection without enforcing adequate access controls on its privileged operations. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the target, after which the attacker gains root-context execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-43771
Published
Nov 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 30, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=11.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Antivirus for Macversion=11.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend MicroCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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