High severity7.8NVD Advisory· Published Sep 14, 2026· Updated Sep 18, 2026
CVE-2026-90894
CVE-2026-90894
Description
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.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected products
1Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
2News mentions
5- ⚡ Weekly Recap: Cisco 0-Day, AI Agent RCE, ClickFix Attacks, ClickFix Surge, and Browser HijacksThe Hacker News · Sep 21, 2026
- Week in review: Cisco patches exploited email gateway 0-day, Revolut breachHelp Net Security · Sep 20, 2026
- Parallels Desktop Flaw Lets Non-Admin Mac Users Gain Root, but Intel Macs Can't Install FixThe Hacker News · Sep 16, 2026
- Parallels Desktop flaw hands any local user root on a Mac (CVE-2026-90894)Help Net Security · Sep 16, 2026
- Parallels Desktop Vulnerability Lets Non-Admin Mac Users Execute Code as RootCyber Security News · Sep 16, 2026