CVE-2007-4155 in VMware
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in a certain ActiveX control in vielib.dll in EMC VMware 6.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary local programs via a full pathname in the first two arguments to the (1) CreateProcess or (2) CreateProcessEx method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4155 represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the vielib.dll ActiveX control component of EMC VMware version 6.0.0. This issue falls under the CWE-22 category of Path Traversal or Directory Traversal attacks, where an attacker can manipulate file path references to access unauthorized system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the CreateProcess and CreateProcessEx methods of the ActiveX control, which are designed to launch external processes on the Windows operating system. The flaw occurs when these methods accept user-supplied input without proper validation or sanitization of pathnames, allowing malicious actors to specify absolute paths that point to arbitrary local programs on the victim's system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the trust model inherent in ActiveX controls running within web browsers, where the control's methods are executed with the privileges of the user who launched the browser. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing an absolute pathname as the first or second argument to either CreateProcess or CreateProcessEx methods, the vulnerable ActiveX control will execute the specified program with the same privileges as the browser process. This creates a severe privilege escalation scenario where remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the operating system level rather than within the application layer, making traditional application-level security controls ineffective against this specific attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4155 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass a wide range of potential malicious activities within the compromised environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, modify system files, or establish persistent access through the execution of malicious programs that bypass standard security controls. The attack surface is significantly broadened because ActiveX controls are commonly enabled in corporate environments where VMware products are deployed, and users may inadvertently browse to malicious websites containing crafted web pages that trigger the vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting Windows Command Shell execution through legitimate system interfaces that are typically trusted by security controls. The exploitability of this vulnerability is further enhanced by the fact that it requires no special privileges to initiate, as the ActiveX control itself is designed to execute with user-level permissions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4155 must address both the immediate exploitation risk and the underlying architectural issues that enable such vulnerabilities. Organizations should immediately disable ActiveX controls in web browsers or implement strict security policies that restrict ActiveX control execution to trusted domains only. The most effective long-term solution involves updating to patched versions of VMware products where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of pathname arguments. Security administrators should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls and web application firewalls to block access to known vulnerable ActiveX controls and monitor for suspicious execution patterns. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining current security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices, particularly regarding input validation and the principle of least privilege in system component design. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized programs, which would provide defense-in-depth against exploitation attempts leveraging this path traversal vulnerability.