CVE-2014-1210 in vSphere Client
Summary
by MITRE
VMware vSphere Client 5.0 before Update 3 and 5.1 before Update 2 does not properly validate X.509 certificates, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1210 represents a critical certificate validation flaw within VMware vSphere Client versions prior to specific updates. This issue affects VMware vSphere Client 5.0 before Update 3 and 5.1 before Update 2, creating a significant security risk that undermines the integrity of secure communications between clients and servers. The flaw resides in the X.509 certificate validation mechanism, which is fundamental to establishing trust in SSL/TLS connections and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive virtualized environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of X.509 certificates during the SSL handshake process within the vSphere Client interface. When users connect to vSphere servers through the client application, the system should verify that certificates presented by servers are valid, properly signed, and match the expected hostnames. However, the flawed validation logic in affected versions allows malicious actors to craft certificates that appear legitimate to the client application while actually being controlled by attackers. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between vSphere clients and servers without detection.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1210 extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of virtualized infrastructures managed through VMware vSphere. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive virtual machine configurations, administrative credentials, and confidential data stored within the virtual environment. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where vSphere clients are used for critical infrastructure management, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of virtualized workloads and potential lateral movement within network perimeters. This vulnerability directly violates the principles of authentication and integrity that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the necessary VMware updates that address the certificate validation flaw. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to VMware vSphere Client 5.0 Update 3 or 5.1 Update 2, which contain the patched certificate validation logic. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish stricter certificate management policies. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's credential access and defense evasion tactics. Organizations should also review their certificate trust stores and implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible to provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks targeting the SSL/TLS validation process.