Multiple Vulnerabilities in VMware Products Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER:

2019-123

DATE(S) ISSUED:

11/12/2019

OVERVIEW:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in VMWare Workstation, Fusion and ESXi, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution. Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker gaining the same privileges given to the host machine. Depending on the privileges ran with VMWare Workstation or Fusion, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE:

There are currently no reports of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

• VMWare Workstation version 15.x prior to 15.5.1
• VMWare Fusion version 11.x prior to 11.5.1
• VMWare ESXi version 6.0.x, 6.5.x, 6.7.x

RISK:

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in VMWare Workstation, Fusion and ESXi, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution. Details of these vulnerabilities are as follows:

• VMware Workstation and Fusion contain an out-of-bound write vulnerability which exist in the e1000e virtual network adapter has been addressed. (CVE-2019-5541)
• VMware Workstation and Fusion contain an information disclosure vulnerability which exist in vmnetdhcp has been addressed (CVE-2019-5540)
• VMware Workstation and Fusion contain a denial of service vulnerability which exist in the RPC handler has been addressed (CVE-2019-5542)
• VMware Workstation and Fusion contain a denial of service vulnerability involving Machine Check Error on Page Size Change (CVE-2018-12207)
• VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion contain a speculative-execution vulnerability involving TSX Asynchronous Abort (CVE-2019-11135)

Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker gaining the same privileges given to the host machine. Depending on the privileges ran with VMWare Workstation or Fusion, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

We recommend the following actions be taken:

• Apply appropriate patches or appropriate mitigations provided by VMware to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing.
• Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative rights) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
• Remind all users not to visit untrusted websites or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
• Inform and educate users regarding threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from untrusted sources.
• Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.

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