Low-Privilege Code Execution Risk Found in Cato Networks Client for macOS

A critical security flaw (CVE-2025-3886) in Cato Networks’ macOS Client has been disclosed, enabling local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level access.

The vulnerability, scored 7.8 on the CVSS v3.1 scale (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), impacts versions before 5.8.0 and stems from a race condition (TOCTOU) in the Helper service’s package installation process.

Vulnerability Overview

The flaw arises from inadequate locking mechanisms during package installation, allowing attackers with low-privileged access to exploit temporal gaps between validation and execution phases.

Successful exploitation grants full root privileges, compromising device integrity and enabling lateral movement within networks.

Metric	Detail
CVE ID	CVE-2025-3886
CVSS Score	7.8 (High)
Attack Vector	Local (AV:L)
Impact	Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability (C:H/I:H/A:H)
Affected Versions	Cato macOS Client < v5.8.0
Patch	v5.8.0 (released April 27, 2025)

Technical Breakdown

The Helper service’s failure to enforce proper synchronization locks creates a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use) vulnerability.

Attackers can:

1. Replace Legitimate Packages: Swap validated packages with malicious ones before installation.
2. Bypass Security Checks: Exploit the race window to execute untrusted code.
3. Achieve Persistence: Install rootkits or backdoors with elevated privileges.

This vulnerability requires prior local access, making it a secondary attack vector often paired with phishing or credential theft.

Mitigation and Response

Cato Networks released version 5.8.0 on April 27, 2025, patching the issue. Administrators must:

• Upgrade Immediately: Deploy v5.8.0 via the Cato Client portal.
• Monitor Installations: Use the Access Overview Dashboard to identify non-compliant devices.
• Enable Automatic Updates: Leverage Cato’s upgrade service to minimize exposure.

Organizations delaying patches risk unauthorized data access, ransomware deployment, and regulatory penalties.

Disclosure Timeline

Date	Event
March 11, 2025	Vulnerability reported to Cato Networks via ZDI.
April 15, 2025	Vendor notified of intent to publish.
April 23, 2025	Coordinated advisory release (ZDI-25-252).
April 27, 2025	Cato publishes patch (v5.8.0) and security bulletin.

Broader Implications

This flaw underscores persistent challenges in securing privilege escalation pathways, particularly in endpoint management tools.

With 97 zero-days exploited in 2024 alone, per Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, organizations must prioritize patch hygiene and behavioral monitoring to counter evolving threats.

Cato’s swift response highlights the critical role of coordinated disclosure, but the incident serves as a reminder: even trusted network clients can become attack surfaces.

Continuous vulnerability management remains non-negotiable in 2025’s threat landscape.

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