CVE-2012-1510 in View
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the WDDM display driver in VMware ESXi 4.0, 4.1, and 5.0; VMware ESX 4.0 and 4.1; and VMware View before 4.6.1 allows guest OS users to gain guest OS privileges via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1510 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Windows Display Driver Model WDDM display driver implementation in VMware virtualization environments. This issue affects multiple VMware products including ESXi versions 4.0, 4.1, and 5.0, ESX versions 4.0 and 4.1, and VMware View versions prior to 4.6.1. The flaw resides in the display driver component responsible for handling graphics rendering operations between the guest operating system and the hypervisor's virtualized hardware interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the WDDM display driver code where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overflow allocated memory buffers. When guest operating system processes submit graphics commands or display-related operations, the driver fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming data structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code. This buffer overflow condition specifically targets the display driver subsystem that manages graphics processing units and rendering operations within the virtualized environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables guest operating system users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to guest OS privileges, effectively breaking the isolation boundaries that separate different virtual machines and user sessions. The attack vector operates through unspecified mechanisms that likely involve crafting malicious graphics operations or display commands that trigger the buffer overflow condition. Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines the security model of virtualized environments where multiple tenants share the same physical hardware. Attackers could potentially use this flaw to access sensitive data from other virtual machines, establish persistent backdoors, or launch further attacks against the underlying host system. The vulnerability affects organizations running VMware virtualization infrastructure where proper segmentation and isolation between guest operating systems is critical for maintaining security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1510 include immediate application of VMware's security patches and updates specifically designed to address the buffer overflow in the WDDM display driver components. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected VMware products receive timely updates. Additionally, security administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date virtualization security patches and highlights the need for continuous monitoring of security advisories from virtualization vendors. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their virtualized environments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other driver components or system services.