CVE-2017-11741 in vagrant-vmware-fusion
Summary
by MITRE
HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin (aka vagrant-vmware-fusion) before 4.0.24 uses weak permissions for the sudo helper scripts, allows local users to execute arbitrary code with root privileges by overwriting one of the scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11741 affects the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin version 4.0.24 and earlier, presenting a critical privilege escalation risk through weak file permissions in sudo helper scripts. This issue stems from inadequate permission controls on critical system components that are designed to operate with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the vagrant-vmware-fusion plugin which enables Vagrant to manage VMware Fusion virtual machines on macOS systems, creating a dangerous attack surface when proper access controls are not enforced.
The technical flaw manifests through improper file permissions on sudo helper scripts that are part of the plugin installation. These scripts are intended to execute with root privileges to perform administrative tasks required for virtual machine management, but they are configured with overly permissive access controls. Local attackers can exploit this weakness by overwriting one of these helper scripts with malicious code, effectively gaining root-level execution capabilities without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The vulnerability operates under the principle of privilege escalation where a local user can leverage weak file permissions to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control and access to sensitive data. Once exploited, the malicious script can perform any action that requires root privileges including installing malware, modifying system files, accessing confidential information, or establishing persistent backdoors. This represents a significant security risk for development environments where Vagrant is commonly used, as these systems often contain sensitive source code, development credentials, and potentially production data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where developers may have elevated privileges on their local machines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11741 primarily focus on updating to the patched version 4.0.24 or later of the vagrant-vmware-fusion plugin. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of the vulnerable plugin are updated across their infrastructure. Additionally, system administrators should conduct security audits to verify proper file permissions on existing installations and monitor for unauthorized script modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring, restricted user permissions, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar permission-based vulnerabilities in their development environments.