CVE-2023-43976Public exploit

Root privilege escalation via package replacement race

Published Oct 3, 2023 · Updated Sep 20, 2024

Privilege escalation in Cato Networks Cato Client before 5.4.0 allows local users to execute package scripts as root on macOS. The PrivilegedHelperTool installPackageAtPath method validates a caller-supplied package with spctl, then installs the same path without ensuring that the file remains unchanged. Any local user able to call the XPC service and replace the package between validation and installation can run a malicious postinstall script as root.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Cato Networks Cato Client before 5.4.0 allows local users to execute package scripts as root on macOS. The PrivilegedHelperTool installPackageAtPath method validates a caller-supplied package with spctl, then installs the same path without ensuring that the file remains unchanged. Any local user able to call the XPC service and replace the package between validation and installation can run a malicious postinstall script as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-43976
Published
Oct 3, 2023
Updated
Sep 20, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-367, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 20, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/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 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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
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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