Root code execution via unverified XPC client
Published Jan 17, 2025 · Updated Feb 12, 2025
Command injection in Exelban Stats before 2.11.21 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with root privileges through its XPC helper. The eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper listener accepts every XPC client, then powermetrics joins attacker-controlled sampler strings into a command executed by /bin/sh. Any local process can reach the Mach service without client verification, enabling root command execution or unsafe fan-setting changes.
Summary
What happened
Command injection in Exelban Stats before 2.11.21 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with root privileges through its XPC helper. The eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper listener accepts every XPC client, then powermetrics joins attacker-controlled sampler strings into a command executed by /bin/sh. Any local process can reach the Mach service without client verification, enabling root command execution or unsafe fan-setting changes.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-21606
- Published
- Jan 17, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 12, 2025
- Vendor
- Exelban
- Product
- Stats
- Classifications
- CWE-345, T1059.004, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 17, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 12, 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.
- Affected versionversion=< 2.11.21
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GHSA-qwhf-px96-7f6v XPC client proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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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