CVE-2025-71216

Root code execution via unchecked signature cache keys

Published May 21, 2026 · Updated May 21, 2026

TOCTOU race in the Trend Micro Apex One (Mac) Security Agent cache allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root. During signature verification, the cache mechanism fails to check cache keys correctly, allowing a verified entry to be confused with attacker-controlled content. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the macOS endpoint; successful exploitation grants root privileges and full control of the agent host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

TOCTOU race in the Trend Micro Apex One (Mac) Security Agent cache allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root. During signature verification, the cache mechanism fails to check cache keys correctly, allowing a verified entry to be confused with attacker-controlled content. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the macOS endpoint; successful exploitation grants root privileges and full control of the agent host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-71216
Published
May 21, 2026
Updated
May 21, 2026
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Apex One (Mac)
Classifications
CWE-367, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 21, 2026Record 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=NA <NA

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Apex One (Mac)version=NA <NA

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend MicroCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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