# CVE-2021-31421: Path traversal in Desktop

> Local attackers with high privileges can delete arbitrary files on the host system via path traversal in Parallels Desktop.

- **Severity:** Low 3.2 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wh35-796x-vwgj

## What is CVE-2021-31421?

CVE-2021-31421 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Parallels Parallels Desktop, published on 29 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows local attackers to delete arbitrary files on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.1-49141. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target guest system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the Toolgate component. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to delete arbitrary files in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-12129.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-31421?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Parallels Parallels Desktop.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-31421?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-31421 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-31421 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-31421 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Parallels Parallels Desktop

- [CVE-2025-31359](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31359/): Path traversal in Parallels Desktop for Mac (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-34864](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34864/): Privilege escalation in Desktop (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-31420](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31420/): Memory corruption in Desktop (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-31424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31424/): Memory corruption in Desktop (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-31425](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31425/): Integer overflow in Desktop (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-31421 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-31421 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Parallels Parallels Desktop, published on 29 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-31421 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Parallels Parallels Desktop. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31421/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31421/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-31421
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31421
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-31421

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31421/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.