CVE-2023-27325Public exploit

Root code execution via inherited Bash environment

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Feb 5, 2025

Improper initialization in Parallels Desktop before 18.1.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root through the Updater. The inittool2 executable launches a noninteractive Bash child from prl_update_helper with inherited, attacker-controlled environment variables, allowing an exported rm function to replace the intended command. Low-privileged code execution on the macOS host is required; successful exploitation grants unrestricted root-level code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper initialization in Parallels Desktop before 18.1.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root through the Updater. The inittool2 executable launches a noninteractive Bash child from prl_update_helper with inherited, attacker-controlled environment variables, allowing an exported rm function to replace the intended command. Low-privileged code execution on the macOS host is required; successful exploitation grants unrestricted root-level code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27325
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Feb 5, 2025
Vendor
Parallels
Product
Parallels Desktop
Classifications
CWE-665, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 5, 2025Record 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=0 <18.1.0
  2. Affected versionversion=18.0.0 (53049)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Parallels · Parallels Desktopversion=0 <18.1.0; version=18.0.0 (53049)

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-665Improper Initialization
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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