# CVE-2025-71217: Trend Micro Apex One (mac) privilege escalation in TmSelfProtect

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-71217-trend-micro-apex-one-mac-privilege-escalation-in-tmselfprotect  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-21. Updated: 2026-05-21  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-71217 · Severity: info · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-05-21

A security vulnerability exists in the Trend Micro Apex One agent for macOS, which is used to protect corporate endpoints from malware and threats. A local user with limited access could exploit a flaw in the software's self-protection mechanism to gain full administrative (root) control over the computer. This could allow an attacker to bypass security policies, access sensitive data, or disable the security agent entirely.

Vendors: [Trend Micro](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/trend-micro).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-71217 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-71217 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-71217?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 21 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Trend Micro Apex One (Mac) Security Agent SaaS 2507 and 2005 Yearly Release (and prior).

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-71217?** A patch was published on 2025-07-01: Addressed via SaaS 2507 and 2005 Yearly Release updates Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2025-71217 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-71217?** Check whether you run Trend Micro Apex One (Mac) Security Agent at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

An origin validation error exists within the TmSelfProtect component of the Trend Micro Apex One (mac) Security Agent. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the origin of commands sent to the self-protection mechanism. A local attacker who has already obtained low-privileged code execution on the system can exploit this flaw to send unauthorized commands, leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of root. The issue was addressed in the SaaS 2507 and 2005 Yearly Release updates via ActiveUpdate.

## Affected products

- Trend Micro Apex One (mac) Security Agent SaaS 2507 and 2005 Yearly Release (and prior)

## Timeline

- 2025-04-08: disclosed: Vulnerability reported to vendor
- 2025-07-01: patched: Addressed via SaaS 2507 and 2005 Yearly Release updates
- 2026-03-03: advisory: Coordinated public release of advisory by ZDI
- 2026-05-21: other: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://success.trendmicro.com/en-US/solution/KA-0022458](https://success.trendmicro.com/en-US/solution/KA-0022458)
- [https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-143/](https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-143/)