CVE-2010-4294 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
The frame decompression functionality in the VMnc media codec in VMware Movie Decoder before 6.5.5 build 328052 and 7.x before 7.1.2 build 301548, VMware Workstation 6.5.x before 6.5.5 build 328052 and 7.x before 7.1.2 build 301548 on Windows, VMware Player 2.5.x before 2.5.5 build 246459 and 3.x before 3.1.2 build 301548 on Windows, and VMware Server 2.x on Windows does not properly validate an unspecified size field, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via a crafted video file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4294 represents a critical heap memory corruption flaw within VMware's VMnc media codec implementation that affects multiple VMware products including Workstation, Player, and Server across various versions. This weakness resides in the frame decompression functionality of the VMware Movie Decoder component, which processes video content for display within virtualized environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of an unspecified size field during video frame processing, creating a potential attack vector that remote adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of video file structures that contain malformed size fields within the VMnc media codec processing pipeline. When the affected VMware products attempt to decompress video frames containing these crafted size values, the improper validation leads to heap memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This memory corruption typically manifests as buffer overflows or heap-based vulnerabilities that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory regions and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the running VMware process. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 6.5.5 build 328052 and 7.x before 7.1.2 build 301548 for Workstation, 2.5.x before 2.5.5 build 246459 and 3.x before 3.1.2 build 301548 for Player, and 2.x versions of VMware Server on Windows platforms, indicating a widespread impact across multiple product lines and version ranges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data theft, or further network penetration attacks. The heap memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation frameworks, where memory corruption vulnerabilities serve as primary entry points for advanced persistent threats. Organizations running affected VMware products face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted video content or where virtual machines are accessible to untrusted network participants.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4294 require immediate implementation of VMware's official security patches and updates for all affected versions of the software. System administrators should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all vulnerable VMware installations are updated to versions that contain proper input validation mechanisms for size field handling. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable VMware environments to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual network traffic patterns or system behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical target for ATT&CK technique T1059 for command execution, making comprehensive security hygiene essential for protecting against exploitation attempts.