CVE-2007-0063 in Workstation
Summary
by MITRE
Integer underflow in the DHCP server in EMC VMware Workstation before 5.5.5 Build 56455 and 6.x before 6.0.1 Build 55017, Player before 1.0.5 Build 56455 and Player 2 before 2.0.1 Build 55017, ACE before 1.0.3 Build 54075 and ACE 2 before 2.0.1 Build 55017, and Server before 1.0.4 Build 56528 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed DHCP packet that triggers a stack-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0063 represents a critical integer underflow condition within the dhcp server implementation of multiple VMware products including Workstation, Player, ACE, and Server. This flaw exists in versions prior to specific build numbers and constitutes a serious security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling of DHCP packets, specifically when processing malformed network requests that manipulate integer values in unexpected ways.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in an integer underflow condition that occurs during DHCP packet processing within VMware's virtualization software. When a specially crafted malformed DHCP packet is received by the vulnerable server, the integer arithmetic operations fail to properly validate the input values, leading to an underflow condition. This underflow subsequently triggers a stack-based buffer overflow, a well-known exploitation vector that allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and CWE-121, Stack-based Buffer Overflow, representing a classic combination of integer arithmetic errors leading to memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across VMware's product ecosystem. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where virtual machines are exposed to untrusted network traffic. The successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain arbitrary code execution, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within virtualized environments. This vulnerability affects not only individual user workstations but also enterprise server deployments where VMware products are used for virtualization, creating widespread potential for damage. The impact is particularly concerning in cloud and data center environments where virtual machines may be exposed to external network traffic and where the compromise of one virtual machine could potentially affect the entire host system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected VMware products to the specified build versions or newer releases. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to untrusted DHCP servers, particularly in environments where virtual machines may be exposed to external networks. Network administrators should consider implementing DHCP snooping mechanisms and other network-based protections to filter malformed packets before they reach virtual machines. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in network services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. System administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual DHCP traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their virtualization environments to identify any other potentially vulnerable components and ensure proper security hardening of all VMware installations.