CVE-2020-17394 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This vulnerability allows local attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.4. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target guest system to exploit this flaw.

Understanding CVE-2020-17394

This CVE affects Parallels Desktop version 15.1.4 and can lead to privilege escalation and code execution in the hypervisor context.

What is CVE-2020-17394?

The vulnerability in Parallels Desktop 15.1.4 allows local attackers to access sensitive information by exploiting a flaw in the OEMNet component due to improper validation of user-supplied data.

The Impact of CVE-2020-17394

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6, indicating a medium severity issue with high confidentiality impact. Attackers with high privileges can potentially read past the end of an allocated buffer, leading to privilege escalation and code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-17394

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, enabling attackers to read past the end of an allocated buffer.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Parallels Desktop
Vendor: Parallels
Version: 15.1.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: High
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: None
Availability Impact: None

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-17394 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Parallels promptly.
Monitor and restrict high-privileged code execution on guest systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential attack surfaces.
Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches from Parallels to mitigate the risk of exploitation.