CVE-2025-21606 Local Privilege Escalation via Exposed XPC Method Due to Client Verification Failure in stats
Local attackers can escalate privileges to root by connecting to an unverified XPC service in the Stats macOS application.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-21606?
CVE-2025-21606 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in exelban stats, published on 17 Jan 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
stats is a macOS system monitor in for the menu bar. The Stats application is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation due to the insecure implementation of its XPC service. The application registers a Mach service under the name `eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper`. The associated binary, eu.exelban.Stats.SMC.Helper, is a privileged helper tool designed to execute actions requiring elevated privileges on behalf of the client, such as setting fan modes, adjusting fan speeds, and executing the `powermetrics` command. The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the `shouldAcceptNewConnection` method, which unconditionally returns YES (or true), allowing any XPC client to connect to the service without any form of verification. As a result, unauthorized clients can establish a connection to the Mach service and invoke methods exposed by the HelperTool interface. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to modify the hardware settings of the user’s device and execute arbitrary code with root privileges. This issue has been addressed in version 2.11.21 and all users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
Weakness: CWE-345
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-21606?
How do I fix CVE-2025-21606?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-21606 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2025-21606 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-21606 exists.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-qwhf-px96-7f6v.