CVE-2015-6934 in vCenter Operations
Summary
by MITRE
Serialized-object interfaces in VMware vRealize Orchestrator 6.x, vCenter Orchestrator 5.x, vRealize Operations 6.x, vCenter Operations 5.x, and vCenter Application Discovery Manager (vADM) 7.x allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object, related to the Apache Commons Collections library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2018
This vulnerability resides in VMware's orchestration and operations management platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x and 5.x of vRealize Orchestrator and vCenter Orchestrator, alongside vRealize Operations and vCenter Operations, as well as vADM 7.x. The flaw manifests through serialized-object interfaces that process Java objects transmitted over network connections, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be executed without authentication. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the Apache Commons Collections library, a widely used Java library that has been previously exploited in numerous high-profile attacks, making this a known pattern that attackers can readily adapt to exploit the specific VMware implementations.
The technical root cause stems from improper validation and deserialization of Java objects within the affected VMware products. When the system receives a serialized object through its network interfaces, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the object structure before attempting to deserialize it. This allows attackers to craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed, trigger the execution of arbitrary commands on the target system. The vulnerability specifically exploits the deserialization mechanism in the Apache Commons Collections library, which has historically been a common target for deserialization attacks due to its widespread use and the presence of dangerous methods within its class hierarchy that can be invoked during object reconstruction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over affected systems. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and move laterally within networks where these VMware products are deployed. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed remotely over network connections, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network monitoring. Organizations running these affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential disruption of critical business operations that rely on these orchestration platforms.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected VMware products to versions that address the deserialization vulnerability in the Apache Commons Collections library. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected interfaces, particularly limiting access to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual deserialization activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes deserialization of untrusted data as a critical security weakness, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any potential unpatched systems, while incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns associated with deserialization attacks targeting the affected VMware products.