CVE-2011-2145 in Player
Summary
by MITRE
mount.vmhgfs in the VMware Host Guest File System (HGFS) in VMware Workstation 7.1.x before 7.1.4, VMware Player 3.1.x before 3.1.4, VMware Fusion 3.1.x before 3.1.3, VMware ESXi 3.5 though 4.1, and VMware ESX 3.0.3 through 4.1, when a Solaris or FreeBSD guest OS is used, allows guest OS users to modify arbitrary guest OS files via unspecified vectors, related to a "procedural error."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2145 affects the VMware Host Guest File System (HGFS) component within various VMware products including Workstation, Player, Fusion, ESXi, and ESX. This issue specifically impacts systems running Solaris or FreeBSD guest operating systems where the VMware Host Guest File System service is active. The flaw manifests as a procedural error that enables guest operating system users to manipulate files within the guest environment through unspecified attack vectors. This represents a significant security weakness in VMware's virtualization infrastructure that could potentially allow unauthorized file modification operations. The vulnerability exists across multiple VMware product versions and operating system combinations, indicating a systemic issue within the HGFS implementation rather than a isolated incident.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a procedural error within the mount.vmhgfs component of VMware's HGFS system. This error creates an opportunity for privilege escalation or unauthorized file manipulation within the guest operating system environment. The unspecified vectors suggest that attackers could exploit this weakness through various means including but not limited to improper input validation, insufficient access controls, or flawed permission handling within the HGFS service. The vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between the host and guest operating systems, where guest users can leverage the HGFS functionality to gain unauthorized access to file system resources. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability relates to CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues, and potentially CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses in the design of access control mechanisms. The procedural error suggests a design flaw in how file system operations are handled between host and guest environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2145 is substantial as it allows guest OS users to modify arbitrary files within the guest operating system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. An attacker with access to a guest operating system could leverage this vulnerability to alter critical system files, install malicious software, or escalate privileges within the guest environment. This vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in multi-tenant virtualization environments where multiple users share the same host system, as it could enable one guest user to affect other guests or the host system itself. The impact extends beyond simple file modification to potential system stability and security breaches, as unauthorized file changes could compromise the integrity of the entire guest operating system. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged under techniques such as T1059 for command execution and T1070 for file and directory permissions modification, potentially leading to broader system compromise through lateral movement or privilege escalation.
The affected VMware products span multiple versions and platforms, including VMware Workstation 7.1.x before 7.1.4, Player 3.1.x before 3.1.4, Fusion 3.1.x before 3.1.3, and various versions of ESXi 3.5 through 4.1 and ESX 3.0.3 through 4.1. This widespread impact across different VMware products indicates that the vulnerability is deeply rooted in the HGFS implementation rather than being a product-specific issue. Organizations using these affected versions should immediately consider updating to patched releases, as the vulnerability affects both desktop virtualization products and server virtualization platforms. The presence of this vulnerability in both VMware Workstation and ESXi/ESX environments suggests that the issue affects both personal and enterprise virtualization deployments, making it particularly concerning for organizations with diverse VMware infrastructure. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems, implementation of network segmentation to limit guest access, and monitoring for unauthorized file modifications within virtual environments. Additionally, organizations should review their virtualization security policies and consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure file system implementations in virtualized environments and demonstrates the critical need for proper access control mechanisms in host-guest communication channels.