CVE-2016-5328 in Tools
Summary
by MITRE
VMware Tools 9.x and 10.x before 10.1.0 on OS X, when System Integrity Protection (SIP) is enabled, allows local users to determine kernel memory addresses and bypass the kASLR protection mechanism via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5328 represents a significant security flaw in VMware Tools versions 9.x and 10.x running on macOS systems with System Integrity Protection (SIP) enabled. This issue affects the kernel memory addressing mechanisms and specifically targets the kASLR (kernel Address Space Layout Randomization) protection that is fundamental to modern operating system security. The vulnerability exposes kernel memory addresses to local attackers, effectively undermining one of the core defense-in-depth strategies that operating systems employ to prevent exploitation of kernel-level vulnerabilities.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that allow local users to extract kernel memory addresses, which are typically randomized as part of kASLR protection. When SIP is enabled on macOS, it creates additional security boundaries that make exploitation more complex, but this vulnerability demonstrates that certain aspects of kernel memory management can still be accessed by local attackers. The exposure of kernel memory addresses provides attackers with critical information needed to bypass memory protection mechanisms, essentially removing the randomization benefits that kASLR provides. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which deals with Information Exposure, and specifically relates to the exposure of sensitive information through kernel memory disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations using VMware virtualization environments on macOS systems. Local attackers who can exploit this vulnerability gain the ability to perform more sophisticated attacks by leveraging the exposed kernel memory addresses. This information can be used to craft more effective exploits against other vulnerabilities or to bypass additional security protections that depend on memory address randomization. The vulnerability essentially creates a pathway for attackers to undermine the security model of macOS systems, particularly when combined with other exploitation techniques that may be available to local users. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where VMware Tools are commonly deployed and where macOS systems may be running with SIP enabled for enhanced security.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and control communications, though more specifically relates to privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating VMware Tools to version 10.1.0 or later, which addresses the kernel memory disclosure issue. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling unnecessary VMware Tools components when not actively needed, and implement monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping virtualization tools updated and demonstrates how seemingly minor issues in virtualization software can have significant implications for kernel-level security. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of kernel memory access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts that leverage similar information disclosure vulnerabilities.