CVE-2026-7574 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2026-7574 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2026-7574: Anthropic Claude Desktop Cowork VM image handling (confirmed across v1.1348.0 through v1.2278.0, including v1.1348.0, v1.1617.0, and v1.2278.0) validates only file presence and a version marker string before booting rootfs.img, but does not verify image content integrity at time-of-use. A local attacker with unprivileged code execution as the victim macOS user can modify the VM root filesystem image and have it trusted on subsequent Cowork VM boots, enabling persistent arbitrary code execution in the VM and access to host-mounted directories. The estimated CWE mapping is CWE-353 (Missing Support for Integrity Check).

CVE-2026-7574 References

External References

• https://cfp.recon.cx/recon-2026/talk/DZUQYU/
• https://takeonme.org/gcves/GCVE-1337-2026-00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001110111111101011111111110000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001010

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CAPEC Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification

• Subverting Environment Variable Values CAPEC-13 The adversary directly or indirectly modifies environment variables used by or controlling the target software. The adversary's goal is to cause the target software to deviate from its expected operation in a manner that benefits the adversary.
• Client-side Injection-induced Buffer Overflow CAPEC-14 This type of attack exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in targeted client software through injection of malicious content from a custom-built hostile service. This hostile service is created to deliver the correct content to the client software. For example, if the client-side application is a browser, the service will host a webpage that the browser loads.
• Content Spoofing Via Application API Manipulation CAPEC-389 An attacker manipulates either egress or ingress data from a client within an application framework in order to change the content of messages. Performing this attack allows the attacker to manipulate content in such a way as to produce messages or content that look authentic but may contain deceptive links, spam-like content, or links to the attackers' code. In general, content-spoofing within an application API can be employed to stage many different types of attacks varied based on the attackers' intent. The techniques require use of specialized software that allow the attacker to use adversary-in-the-middle (CAPEC-94) communications between the web browser and the remote system.
• Manipulating Opaque Client-based Data Tokens CAPEC-39 In circumstances where an application holds important data client-side in tokens (cookies, URLs, data files, and so forth) that data can be manipulated. If client or server-side application components reinterpret that data as authentication tokens or data (such as store item pricing or wallet information) then even opaquely manipulating that data may bear fruit for an Attacker. In this pattern an attacker undermines the assumption that client side tokens have been adequately protected from tampering through use of encryption or obfuscation.
• Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws CAPEC-665 An adversary leverages a firmware weakness within the Thunderbolt protocol, on a computing device to manipulate Thunderbolt controller firmware in order to exploit vulnerabilities in the implementation of authorization and verification schemes within Thunderbolt protection mechanisms. Upon gaining physical access to a target device, the adversary conducts high-level firmware manipulation of the victim Thunderbolt controller SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) flash, through the use of a SPI Programing device and an external Thunderbolt device, typically as the target device is booting up. If successful, this allows the adversary to modify memory, subvert authentication mechanisms, spoof identities and content, and extract data and memory from the target device. Currently 7 major vulnerabilities exist within Thunderbolt protocol with 9 attack vectors as noted in the Execution Flow.
• Manipulating State CAPEC-74 The adversary modifies state information maintained by the target software or causes a state transition in hardware. If successful, the target will use this tainted state and execute in an unintended manner. State management is an important function within a software application. User state maintained by the application can include usernames, payment information, browsing history as well as application-specific contents such as items in a shopping cart. Manipulating user state can be employed by an adversary to elevate privilege, conduct fraudulent transactions or otherwise modify the flow of the application to derive certain benefits. If there is a hardware logic error in a finite state machine, the adversary can use this to put the system in an undefined state which could cause a denial of service or exposure of secure data.
• Manipulating Writeable Configuration Files CAPEC-75 Generally these are manually edited files that are not in the preview of the system administrators, any ability on the attackers' behalf to modify these files, for example in a CVS repository, gives unauthorized access directly to the application, the same as authorized users.

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