CVE-2022-27883

Root code execution via symlink-induced permission loosening

Published Apr 9, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Link-following in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac 11.5 allows local users with low-level privileges to execute code as root through a crafted symlink. The libTmUtil dynamic library follows an attacker-created symbolic link and loosens permissions on the linked local file instead of rejecting the link. Low-privileged code execution on the Mac is required, after which the altered file permissions enable execution in the root context.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability1.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac 11.5 allows local users with low-level privileges to execute code as root through a crafted symlink. The libTmUtil dynamic library follows an attacker-created symbolic link and loosens permissions on the linked local file instead of rejecting the link. Low-privileged code execution on the Mac is required, after which the altered file permissions enable execution in the root context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-27883
Published
Apr 9, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac
Classifications
CWE-59, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 9, 2022CVE 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=11.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Antivirus for Macversion=11.5

Published CVSS scores

7.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

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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