Is CVE-2021-34986 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2021-34986 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2021-34986 be exploited remotely?

No. CVE-2021-34986 requires local access to exploit.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-34986?

CVE-2021-34986 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-34986

HIGH

CVE-2021-34986

CWE-367Published: July 15, 2022· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Desktop 16.5.0 (49183). An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the Parallels Service. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the service to execute a file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-13932.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-34986 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.