CVE-2010-4297 in Fusion
Summary
by MITRE
The VMware Tools update functionality in VMware Workstation 6.5.x before 6.5.5 build 328052 and 7.x before 7.1.2 build 301548; VMware Player 2.5.x before 2.5.5 build 328052 and 3.1.x before 3.1.2 build 301548; VMware Server 2.0.2; VMware Fusion 2.x before 2.0.8 build 328035 and 3.1.x before 3.1.2 build 332101; VMware ESXi 3.5, 4.0, and 4.1; and VMware ESX 3.0.3, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.1 allows host OS users to gain privileges on the guest OS via unspecified vectors, related to a "command injection" issue.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4297 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within VMware's virtualization ecosystem that affects multiple products including workstation player server and esx esxi platforms. This issue stems from a command injection vulnerability in the VMware Tools update functionality that enables malicious users with host operating system access to execute arbitrary commands within the guest operating system with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of VMware Workstation 6.5.x before 6.5.5, 7.x before 7.1.2, VMware Player 2.5.x before 2.5.5, 3.1.x before 3.1.2, VMware Server 2.0.2, VMware Fusion 2.x before 2.0.8, 3.1.x before 3.1.2, VMware ESXi 3.5, 4.0, and 4.1, as well as VMware ESX 3.0.3, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.1. The command injection aspect of this vulnerability places it squarely within the scope of common weakness enumeration category CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws that allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands through improperly sanitized input.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves exploitation of the VMware Tools update mechanism where untrusted input from the host system is improperly handled and directly incorporated into system commands without adequate sanitization or validation. This creates an environment where malicious commands can be injected and executed within the guest operating system context, effectively allowing a compromised host user to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to guest system resources. The operational impact is severe as it fundamentally undermines the security isolation that virtualization platforms are designed to provide, enabling attackers to move laterally between host and guest environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code, access sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors, or perform other malicious activities within the guest operating system with elevated privileges.
This vulnerability directly aligns with several tactics described in the attack technique framework including privilege escalation and execution of malicious code within virtualized environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the core virtualization infrastructure components that many organizations rely upon for their computing environments. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual virtual machines to potentially compromise entire virtualized infrastructures, especially in enterprise environments where multiple virtual machines may be running on a single host system. Organizations utilizing affected VMware products face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive guest operating systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to corporate networks.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of vendor patches and updates for all affected VMware products, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to virtualization infrastructure, and enhanced monitoring of virtual machine activities for signs of privilege escalation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, virtual machine integrity checking, and regular security assessments of virtualized environments. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and sanitization in virtualization tools and serves as a reminder that security flaws in hypervisor and virtualization components can have far-reaching consequences across entire enterprise computing infrastructures. Organizations should prioritize updating their VMware installations to versions that contain the necessary security fixes and implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.