CVE-2017-13872
It allows attackers to obtain administrator access without a password via certain interactions involving entry of the root user name.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 36.8%, higher than 98% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS High Sierra before Security Update 2017-001 is affected. The issue involves the "Directory Utility" component. It allows attackers to obtain administrator access without a password via certain interactions involving entry of the root user name.
- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 36.77% probability · 98th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 28 November 2017
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-287
- Affected
- apple/mac os x
- Source
- product-security@apple.com
EPSS moved from 34.9% on 21 September 2026 to 36.8% on 27 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-43201source ↗ | Apple macOS 10.13.1 (High Sierra) - 'Blank Root' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)macos · Metasploit | local | 30 November 2017 | yes |
| EDB-43248source ↗ | Apple macOS 10.13.1 (High Sierra) - 'Blank Root' Local Privilege Escalationmacos · Lemiorhan | local | 28 November 2017 | yes |
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101981Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039875Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/11/macos-bug-lets-you-log-in-as-admin-with-no-password-required/Mitigation, Third Party Advisory
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/pull/9302
- https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x24.htmlExploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT208315Vendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT208331
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43201/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43248/
- https://www.wired.com/story/macos-update-undoes-apple-root-bug-patch/Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101981Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039875Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/11/macos-bug-lets-you-log-in-as-admin-with-no-password-required/Mitigation, Third Party Advisory
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/pull/9302
- https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x24.htmlExploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT208315Vendor Advisory
- https://support.apple.com/HT208331
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43201/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43248/
- https://www.wired.com/story/macos-update-undoes-apple-root-bug-patch/Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.