CVE-2014-2384 in Workstation
Summary
by MITRE
vmx86.sys in VMware Workstation 10.0.1 build 1379776 and VMware Player 6.0.1 build 1379776 on Windows might allow local users to cause a denial of service (read access violation and system crash) via a crafted buffer in an IOCTL call. NOTE: the researcher reports "Vendor rated issue as non-exploitable."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2384 resides within the vmx86.sys kernel driver component of VMware Workstation 10.0.1 and VMware Player 6.0.1 running on Windows operating systems. This issue represents a critical flaw in the virtualization layer that could potentially compromise system stability and availability. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation within the device driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, specifically when processing crafted buffer data that exceeds expected boundaries. The affected driver is responsible for managing virtual machine execution contexts and provides low-level hardware access capabilities that are essential for proper virtualization functionality.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the vmx86.sys driver's IOCTL handling routines. When a local user crafts a malicious IOCTL request containing oversized or malformed buffer data, the driver fails to properly validate the input parameters before attempting to process the request. This leads to a read access violation condition where the driver attempts to access memory locations outside of its allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Windows operating system, making it particularly dangerous as it can cause immediate system crashes and complete denial of service conditions. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for local users who may exploit it to cause system instability and complete service disruption. The denial of service condition manifests as immediate system crashes and blue screen errors, effectively rendering the virtualization environment unusable until the system is rebooted. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where virtualization platforms serve as critical infrastructure components for application deployment and testing. The vulnerability affects the core virtualization functionality, potentially disrupting business operations and requiring immediate remediation efforts. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would map to T1490 - Inhibit System Recovery, as it directly targets system stability and availability through kernel-level manipulation.
The vendor's classification of this issue as "non-exploitable" suggests that they determined the vulnerability cannot be leveraged for remote code execution or privilege escalation beyond the local user context. However, the local privilege escalation potential remains significant as any user with access to the system could potentially trigger the denial of service condition. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local system access, making it less severe than remote attack vectors but still problematic for security-conscious environments. Organizations should implement immediate patching strategies to address this vulnerability, as the risk of system instability could impact productivity and availability. The recommended mitigation approach includes updating to patched versions of VMware Workstation and Player, implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, and monitoring system logs for potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain continuous monitoring of virtualization environments.