CVE-2020-8874 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2020-8874, a privilege escalation vulnerability in Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123, allowing local attackers to execute high-privileged code. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures.
This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target guest system to exploit this flaw within the xHCI component.
Understanding CVE-2020-8874
This CVE entry describes a privilege escalation vulnerability in Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123.
What is CVE-2020-8874?
The vulnerability in Parallels Desktop 15.1.2-47123 allows local attackers to escalate privileges by executing high-privileged code on the target guest system. The flaw is related to an integer overflow within the xHCI component.
The Impact of CVE-2020-8874
The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH based on the CVSS v3.0 scoring. It can result in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, requiring high privileges and no user interaction.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-8874
This section provides technical details of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, leading to an integer overflow before buffer allocation, enabling privilege escalation and code execution in the hypervisor context.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Desktop
- Vendor: Parallels
- Version: 15.1.2-47123
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target guest system, leveraging the integer overflow in the xHCI component.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8874 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply security patches provided by Parallels promptly.
- Monitor for any unauthorized system changes or privilege escalations.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights.
- Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that Parallels Desktop is updated to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.