# CVE-2026-41702: VMware Fusion privilege escalation via TOCTOU in SETUID binary

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41702-vmware-fusion-privilege-escalation-via-toctou-in-setuid-binary  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-15. Updated: 2026-05-18  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-41702 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-05-15

VMware Fusion, a desktop hypervisor used to run virtual machines on Mac computers, contains a security flaw that could allow a standard user to gain full administrative control. By exploiting a timing error in how the software handles internal system files, a local attacker can elevate their privileges to 'root' level. This would allow them to bypass security restrictions, access sensitive data, or modify the underlying operating system.

Technologies: [VMware Fusion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/fusion). Vendors: [VMware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/vmware).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-41702 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41702 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-41702?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 15 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** VMware Fusion 25H2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41702?** A patch was published on 2026-05-14: Fixed in version 26H1 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-41702 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-41702?** Check whether you run VMware Fusion 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

A Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition exists within a SETUID binary in VMware Fusion. The vulnerability occurs when the application checks a file's properties or state but the state changes before the application performs a subsequent operation on that file. A local attacker with low-level privileges can exploit this race condition to manipulate file operations, leading to an escalation of privileges to root. The issue is tracked as CVE-2026-41702 and has been addressed in VMware Fusion version 26H1.

## Affected products

- VMware Fusion 25H2

## Timeline

- 2026-05-14: advisory: Initial VMSA-2026-0003 advisory published by Broadcom
- 2026-05-14: patched: Fixed in version 26H1
- 2026-05-15: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/37454](https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/37454)

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- [VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion out-of-bounds read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41703-vmware-esxi-workstation-and-fusion-out-of-bounds-read)
- [VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion Information Disclosure Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-22226-vmware-esxi-workstation-and-fusion-information-disclosure)
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