CVE-2009-0908 in ACE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the ACE shared folders implementation in the VMware Host Guest File System (HGFS) shared folders feature in VMware ACE 2.5.1 and earlier allows attackers to enable a disabled shared folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0908 resides within the VMware Host Guest File System (HGFS) implementation in VMware ACE 2.5.1 and earlier versions. This flaw specifically affects the shared folders feature that enables communication between host and guest operating systems. The issue represents a security misconfiguration where the system fails to properly enforce access controls for shared folders, allowing unauthorized modification of folder permissions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the HGFS subsystem that manages shared folder operations between virtual machines and their host environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a privilege escalation or access control bypass condition. Attackers can exploit this weakness to re-enable shared folders that have been intentionally disabled by administrators or system policies. This occurs because the HGFS implementation does not properly validate the security context or permissions when processing requests to modify shared folder states. The flaw essentially allows malicious actors to circumvent the intended security restrictions that should prevent unauthorized access to shared resources. This vulnerability operates at the system level where file system permissions and access controls are managed, making it particularly dangerous in virtualized environments where multiple users or processes may interact with shared resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass. In VMware ACE environments, where shared folders are commonly used for data transfer and collaboration between host and guest systems, this flaw could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to restore access to folders that were deliberately disabled for security reasons, potentially exposing confidential information or creating backdoors within the virtualized environment. The implications are significant for organizations relying on VMware ACE for secure virtual desktop infrastructure, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions built into the shared folder access controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to VMware ACE versions that address this vulnerability, which would typically involve applying the appropriate security patches released by VMware. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of shared folder configurations and disable unnecessary shared folders entirely where possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers could use the enabled shared folders to maintain access or exfiltrate data. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unauthorized shared folder access attempts would provide additional layers of defense against exploitation of this vulnerability.