CVE-2026-12374

Root escalation via XPC verification and symlink race

Published Jul 1, 2026 · Updated Jul 1, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Cato Client 5.12.0 through 5.13.0 on macOS allows local users to gain root access through its XPC service. PrivilegedHelperTool accepts a self-signed caller certificate, then package installation follows a path that can be replaced with a symlink after validation. An authenticated local user must win that time-of-check time-of-use race; success makes the privileged helper install attacker-controlled content as root.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Cato Client 5.12.0 through 5.13.0 on macOS allows local users to gain root access through its XPC service. PrivilegedHelperTool accepts a self-signed caller certificate, then package installation follows a path that can be replaced with a symlink after validation. An authenticated local user must win that time-of-check time-of-use race; success makes the privileged helper install attacker-controlled content as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-12374
Published
Jul 1, 2026
Updated
Jul 1, 2026
Vendor
Cato Networks
Product
Cato Client
Classifications
CWE-295, CWE-367, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 1, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 1, 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=5.12.0 <5.13.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Cato Networks · Cato Clientversion=5.12.0 <5.13.1

Published CVSS scores

6.4Cato NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
7.3Cato NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use 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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