Root code execution via unlocked package installation
Published Apr 27, 2025 · Updated Apr 28, 2025
Local privilege escalation in Cato Networks Cato Client before 5.8.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root via a package race. PrivilegedHelperTool performs package installation without proper locking, creating a time-of-check-to-time-of-use window over the package state. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the device; a successful race runs attacker-controlled code in the root context.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in Cato Networks Cato Client before 5.8.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root via a package race. PrivilegedHelperTool performs package installation without proper locking, creating a time-of-check-to-time-of-use window over the package state. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the device; a successful race runs attacker-controlled code in the root context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-3886
- Published
- Apr 27, 2025
- Updated
- Apr 28, 2025
- Vendor
- Cato Networks
- Product
- Cato Client
- Classifications
- CWE-362, CAPEC-233, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 28, 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=0 <5.8.0
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
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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