CVE-2008-3691 in Player
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in a certain ActiveX control in VMware Workstation 5.5.x before 5.5.8 build 108000, VMware Workstation 6.0.x before 6.0.5 build 109488, VMware Player 1.x before 1.0.8 build 108000, VMware Player 2.x before 2.0.5 build 109488, VMware ACE 1.x before 1.0.7 build 108880, VMware ACE 2.x before 2.0.5 build 109488, and VMware Server before 1.0.7 build 108231 has unknown impact and remote attack vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-3692, CVE-2008-3693, CVE-2008-3694, CVE-2008-3695, and CVE-2008-3696.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
This vulnerability resides within the ActiveX control implementation of multiple VMware products including Workstation, Player, ACE, and Server across various version ranges. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates a critical security flaw that was not fully disclosed in the initial CVE description, suggesting a potentially severe flaw in the component's handling of user input or system resources. The vulnerability affects versions prior to specific build numbers, indicating that VMware had already identified and potentially patched the issue in later releases. This type of vulnerability in ActiveX controls represents a significant concern for enterprise security environments where these virtualization products are commonly deployed.
The technical flaw likely involves memory corruption or improper input validation within the ActiveX control that could be exploited through malicious web content or crafted files. ActiveX controls are inherently risky components that execute with the privileges of the user running the application, making them prime targets for exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as having unknown impact and remote attack vectors suggests it could potentially allow arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation when the vulnerable ActiveX control is loaded by a web browser or other application. The fact that this vulnerability is distinct from several other CVEs indicates it operates through a different exploitation vector or code path, making it particularly concerning for security researchers and defenders.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple VMware product lines, creating widespread exposure for organizations using these virtualization platforms. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through web-based attacks, potentially compromising user systems when they visit malicious websites or open infected documents that trigger the vulnerable ActiveX control. The remote attack vector implies that exploitation does not require local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious content in email attachments, web browsing sessions, or corporate portals. Organizations with legacy versions of these VMware products in production environments face significant risk of compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of all affected VMware products to the latest versions that contain the security fixes. System administrators should implement network-based protections such as ActiveX filtering and browser security settings to prevent automatic loading of vulnerable ActiveX controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, and may relate to ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of remote services or T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all systems running vulnerable VMware versions and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.