CVE-2019-5015
Description
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Mac OS X version of Pixar Renderman 22.3.0's Install Helper helper tool. A user with local access can use this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to root. An attacker would need local access to the machine for a successful exploit.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Pixar Renderman 22.3.0's Install Helper allows local users to gain root privileges due to insufficient verification in the Dispatch function.
Vulnerability
The vulnerability exists in the Install Helper helper tool installed by Pixar Renderman 22.3.0 for Mac OS X. After installation, the helper tool runs as root and continues to listen. The Dispatch function lacks verification of the caller, exposing functionality to any local user. This allows an attacker to install arbitrary packages as root. The issue stems from an incorrectly applied patch that restricts program execution to the system installer but permits any installation package to be chosen [1].
Exploitation
An attacker needs local access to the machine. The proof of concept involves placing a malicious package at /tmp/root.pkg and then triggering the helper tool to install it, resulting in a root shell (e.g., via nc -l 1337). No authentication is required beyond local access, and no user interaction is needed beyond the initial compromise [1].
Impact
Successful exploitation grants the attacker root privileges on the affected macOS system. This leads to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as the attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated permissions, install persistent malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data.
Mitigation
As of the public disclosure date (March 6, 2019), no fixed version is mentioned in the available reference [1]. Users should monitor Pixar's official channels for updates. Until a patch is released, limiting local access to trusted users and disabling the helper tool (if feasible) may reduce risk. The vulnerability is not listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
AI Insight generated on May 26, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
2- Talos/Pixar Rendermanv5Range: Renderman 22.3.0 for Mac OS X
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Missing caller verification in the Install Helper's Dispatch function exposes a dangerous method that allows arbitrary package installation as root."
Attack vector
An attacker with local access to the machine can exploit the Install Helper tool, which runs as root and exposes a Dispatch function without caller verification [CWE-749] [ref_id=1]. The advisory states that "the patch restricts the program to be executed to the system installer and allows any installation package to be chosen," meaning an attacker can supply an arbitrary malicious package to be installed as root [ref_id=1]. The proof-of-concept places a crafted package at /tmp/root.pkg and then triggers the helper to install it, yielding a root shell (e.g., via a reverse shell listener on port 1337) [ref_id=1]. No authentication is required beyond local access to the machine [ref_id=1].
Affected code
The vulnerability resides in the Install Helper helper tool's Dispatch function. The advisory notes that "the caller of this function is not checked and the functionality is exposed to any user" [ref_id=1]. The tool is installed and launched as root during the Mac OS X installation of Pixar Renderman 22.3.0 and continues listening after installation completes [ref_id=1].
What the fix does
The advisory does not include a patch diff, but it describes the root cause as a missing caller verification in the Dispatch function combined with an incorrectly applied prior patch that "restricts the program to be executed to the system installer and allows any installation package to be chosen" [ref_id=1]. To remediate, the helper tool must validate the identity or authorization of the caller before performing privileged operations, and should restrict which packages can be installed rather than allowing arbitrary packages. The vendor disclosure occurred on 2019-02-01 and the report was publicly released on 2019-03-06 [ref_id=1].
Preconditions
- networkAttacker must have local access to the machine
- configThe Pixar Renderman 22.3.0 Install Helper helper tool must be installed and running as root
- inputAttacker must be able to place a crafted package (e.g., at /tmp/root.pkg) and communicate with the helper tool
Reproduction
The advisory includes a proof-of-concept: place a crafted OS X package into /tmp/root.pkg, run `nc -l 1337` in a separate terminal to accept the root shell, then trigger the Install Helper tool to install the package [ref_id=1]. The specific trigger mechanism is not detailed in the advisory text beyond the Dispatch function being exposed to any local user [ref_id=1].
Generated on May 26, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
2- www.securityfocus.com/bid/107436mitrevdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2019-0773mitrex_refsource_MISC
News mentions
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