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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2024-6153: Parallels Desktop · Protection Mechanism Failure

Affects Parallels DesktopSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC

CVSS 3.0 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 21% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 20 Jun 2024

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

AI-suggested

  1. Restrict local user access: Limit the number of users with local access to systems running Parallels Desktop to reduce the risk of initial low-privilege code execution.
  2. Monitor and audit local activity: Implement robust monitoring to detect unusual update behaviors or attempts to downgrade software versions.
  3. Apply principle of least privilege: Ensure users and processes have only the minimum privileges necessary to reduce the attack surface.
  4. Use application whitelisting: Prevent unauthorized execution of downgraded or unauthorized Parallels Desktop binaries.
  5. Network segmentation: Isolate systems running Parallels Desktop to limit lateral movement if compromised.
  6. Stay updated: Monitor Parallels’ security advisories closely and apply patches promptly once released.
  7. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools: Use advanced threat detection to identify exploitation attempts targeting the updater service.
  8. Harden update mechanisms: Where possible, verify update integrity manually or through additional security controls until an official patch is available.
  9. Educate users: Train users about the risks of executing untrusted code locally and the importance of reporting suspicious behavior. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, monitoring update processes, and preparing for patch deployment.

Description

Parallels Desktop Updater Protection Mechanism Failure Software Downgrade Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to downgrade Parallels software on affected installations of Parallels Desktop. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target host system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the Updater service. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of version information before performing an update. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-19481.

References

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