CVE-2011-2217 in Virtual Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
Certain ActiveX controls in (1) tsgetxu71ex552.dll and (2) tsgetx71ex552.dll in Tom Sawyer GET Extension Factory 5.5.2.237, as used in VI Client (aka VMware Infrastructure Client) 2.0.2 before Build 230598 and 2.5 before Build 204931 in VMware Infrastructure 3, do not properly handle attempted initialization within Internet Explorer, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2217 represents a critical security flaw in the Tom Sawyer GET Extension Factory 5.5.2.237 components within VMware Infrastructure Client 2.0.2 and 2.5 versions. This issue specifically affects the tsgetxu71ex552.dll and tsgetx71ex552.dll ActiveX controls that are integrated into the VI Client interface. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of initialization attempts within the Internet Explorer browser environment, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors.
The technical flaw manifests through the insecure initialization of ActiveX controls that lack proper validation mechanisms for input parameters and memory management during the loading process. When a malicious HTML document attempts to initialize these ActiveX controls within Internet Explorer, the controls fail to properly validate the initialization parameters, leading to memory corruption vulnerabilities. This memory corruption can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the browser context where users may unknowingly encounter malicious content through phishing attacks, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to VMware infrastructure environments where the affected VI Client versions are deployed. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely means that attackers can potentially gain full system compromise, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access within the network. The denial of service component of this vulnerability further compounds the risk by allowing attackers to disrupt normal operations through memory corruption attacks that can crash the affected systems. Organizations using these older versions of VMware Infrastructure Client face heightened exposure since the vulnerability affects the core management interface components that administrators frequently use, making them prime targets for exploitation.
The attack vector for CVE-2011-2217 aligns with common threat actor methodologies targeting browser-based exploits and ActiveX control vulnerabilities. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-119 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which covers weaknesses related to the improper handling of memory operations and buffer overflows. The technique employed in this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK tactics including execution through malicious ActiveX controls and privilege escalation via code injection. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how legacy software components can create persistent security risks when deployed in enterprise environments, particularly in the context of virtualization management interfaces where administrative access is highly valuable to attackers.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching to the latest available versions of VMware Infrastructure Client, disabling ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer for non-essential operations, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls to block malicious content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the dangers of running legacy software components in enterprise environments where they may be exposed to internet-based threats. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browser and plugin components updated remains critical in defending against this class of vulnerability.