# CVE-2021-34867: Memory corruption in Desktop

> Local attackers with guest code execution can escalate privileges to the hypervisor via uncontrolled memory allocation in Parallels Desktop.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 25 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8vvh-6wqm-9fpw

## What is CVE-2021-34867?

CVE-2021-34867 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Parallels Desktop, published on 25 Jan 2022. 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 escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.1.3-49160. 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 user-supplied data, which can result in an uncontrolled memory allocation. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the hypervisor. Was ZDI-CAN-13672.

Weakness: CWE-789 (Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-34867?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Parallels Parallels.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-34867?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-34867 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-34867 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-34867 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Parallels Desktop

- [CVE-2025-0413](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0413/): Parallels Desktop Technical Data Reporter Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-34868](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34868/): Memory corruption in Desktop (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-34869](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34869/): Memory corruption in Desktop (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-7213](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7213/): Weak cryptography in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-34867 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-34867 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Parallels Desktop, published on 25 Jan 2022. 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-2021-34867 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: 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-2021-34867/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34867/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-34867
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-34867
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-34867

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34867/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.