CVE-2007-0833 in Workstation
Summary
by MITRE
VMware Workstation 5.5.3 34685, when the "Enable copy and paste to and from this virtual machine" option is enabled, preserves clipboard data on the guest operating system after it was deleted on the host operating system, which might allow local users to read clipboard contents by moving the focus back to the host operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2018
This vulnerability exists in VMware Workstation 5.5.3 build 34685 where the clipboard functionality between host and guest operating systems is improperly managed. The issue stems from the implementation of the copy and paste feature that allows data transfer between virtual machine environments and the host system. When users enable the "Enable copy and paste to and from this virtual machine" option, the system maintains clipboard data within the guest operating system even after the original data has been removed from the host clipboard. This creates a persistent data exposure condition that violates fundamental security principles of data isolation between virtual environments.
The technical flaw manifests through improper memory management and data synchronization mechanisms within the VMware virtualization layer. The clipboard data preservation occurs at the guest operating system level, meaning that deleted content remains accessible within the virtual machine's memory space. This behavior creates a potential information disclosure vulnerability where local users within the guest environment can access clipboard contents that should have been purged from the host system. The vulnerability specifically affects the clipboard synchronization process that occurs between host and guest systems, creating a persistent data cache that should have been cleared upon deletion.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows local users within the virtual machine to potentially access sensitive data that was previously copied to the clipboard on the host system. The attack vector requires the user to move focus back to the host operating system, indicating that the vulnerability is not automatically exploitable but requires specific user interaction. However, this still represents a significant security risk as it allows for data leakage from one environment to another through the virtualization layer. The vulnerability affects both the host and guest operating systems by creating an unexpected data persistence mechanism that bypasses normal security boundaries.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability represents a data leakage mechanism that could potentially expose sensitive information such as passwords, personal data, or confidential business information that was copied to the clipboard on the host system. Organizations using VMware Workstation for development, testing, or production environments may face unauthorized data access risks when this vulnerability is present.
Mitigation strategies should include disabling the clipboard sharing feature when it is not required, implementing proper access controls within virtual environments, and ensuring regular updates to VMware Workstation to address known vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and access controls to detect unauthorized clipboard access patterns. The vulnerability can be addressed by updating to newer versions of VMware Workstation where this issue has been resolved, or by disabling the specific clipboard sharing functionality that triggers this behavior. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level security controls and endpoint protection measures to further reduce the attack surface and potential impact of such information disclosure vulnerabilities.