CVE-2026-54424: CWE-648 Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs in Unity Parsec
An Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs vulnerability in Unity Parsec on Windows hosts leads to a potential Elevation of Privilege. This issue affects Parsec through v2026-05-04.0. The patched version is Parsec for Windows version 150-104a. A user can generate a situation where there is an instance of parsecd.exe running as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM with a user-controlled value of the AppData environment variable.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability (CVE-2026-54424) in Unity Parsec on Windows hosts arises from improper handling of privileged APIs, specifically involving the AppData environment variable. An attacker can create conditions where the parsecd.exe process runs with SYSTEM-level privileges but uses a user-controlled AppData path, leading to potential elevation of privilege. The affected versions include all Parsec releases before 2026-05-04.0. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.4, indicating high severity. No vendor advisory or patch information is currently available to confirm remediation status.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker to elevate their privileges to SYSTEM level on affected Windows hosts running vulnerable Parsec versions. This could lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized access, modification, or disruption of system resources.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, users should limit local access to trusted users only and monitor for unusual parsecd.exe behavior. Avoid running vulnerable versions in sensitive environments.
CVE-2026-54424: CWE-648 Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs in Unity Parsec
Description
An Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs vulnerability in Unity Parsec on Windows hosts leads to a potential Elevation of Privilege. This issue affects Parsec through v2026-05-04.0. The patched version is Parsec for Windows version 150-104a. A user can generate a situation where there is an instance of parsecd.exe running as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM with a user-controlled value of the AppData environment variable.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.4high
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability (CVE-2026-54424) in Unity Parsec on Windows hosts arises from improper handling of privileged APIs, specifically involving the AppData environment variable. An attacker can create conditions where the parsecd.exe process runs with SYSTEM-level privileges but uses a user-controlled AppData path, leading to potential elevation of privilege. The affected versions include all Parsec releases before 2026-05-04.0. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.4, indicating high severity. No vendor advisory or patch information is currently available to confirm remediation status.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker to elevate their privileges to SYSTEM level on affected Windows hosts running vulnerable Parsec versions. This could lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized access, modification, or disruption of system resources.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, users should limit local access to trusted users only and monitor for unusual parsecd.exe behavior. Avoid running vulnerable versions in sensitive environments.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- mitre
- Date Reserved
- 2026-06-14T04:15:58.932Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a485ca827e9c7971952f376
Added to database: 07/04/2026, 01:06:48 UTC
Last enriched: 07/11/2026, 09:00:17 UTC
Last updated: 08/18/2026, 10:54:24 UTC
Views: 155
Community Reviews
0 reviewsCrowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.
Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.
Actions
Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.
Need more coverage?
Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.
For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.
Latest Threats
Check if your credentials are on the dark web
Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.