CVE-2026-90894

Parallels Desktop local privilege escalation via appliance extract argument injection

CVSS 7.8 high · Parallels Parallels Desktop for Mac · published 2026-09-14

Parallels Desktop runs prl_disp_service as root. Local clients reach it on the world-writable socket /var/run/prl_disp_service.socket. PrlSrv_LoginLocal accepts peer credentials. No Parallels signature. No admin group. After login, PrlSrv_InstallAppliance lets you pick the appliance folder (sVmParentPath). The daemon unpacks with one string, tar -xf "%1" -C "%2", then Qt QProcess::splitCommand chops that string into words. A quote in the folder name closes early. The leftover text becomes extra tar flags. macOS tar --use-compress-program= runs the named program as root.

NVD · CVE.org

Coverage 1 source

1. 2026-09-16 Help Net Security high Parallels Desktop flaw hands any local user root on a Mac (CVE-2026-90894)

   Parallels Desktop has a vulnerability (CVE-2026-90894) that allows any local user on a Mac to gain root privileges.

Also covered

• CVE-2026-86950 Apple iOS and iPadOS CVSS 8.8 · 1 article · 2026-09-29
• CVE-2023-6548 Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC CVSS 5.5 · 1 article · 2026-09-28
• CVE-2023-25608 Fortinet FortiAP-W2 CVSS 5.2 · 1 article · 2026-09-28
• CVE-2026-88772 Memory overflow vulnerability leading to Remote Code Execution or Denial of Service CVSS 9.5 · 3 articles · 2026-09-28
• CVE-2026-88771 A remote code execution vulnerability exists due to improper input validation, which can allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands CVSS 9.5 · 3 articles · 2026-09-28