CVE-2017-4910 in Workstation
Summary
by MITRE
VMware Workstation (12.x prior to 12.5.3) and Horizon View Client (4.x prior to 4.4.0) contain multiple out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in JPEG2000 parser in the TPView.dll. On Workstation, this may allow a guest to execute code or perform a Denial of Service on the Windows OS that runs Workstation. In the case of a Horizon View Client, this may allow a View desktop to execute code or perform a Denial of Service on the Windows OS that runs the Horizon View Client. Exploitation is only possible if virtual printing has been enabled. This feature is not enabled by default on Workstation but it is enabled by default on Horizon View.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4910 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the JPEG2000 parser implementation in VMware's TPView.dll component. This vulnerability affects multiple VMware products including Workstation versions 12.x prior to 12.5.3 and Horizon View Client versions 4.x prior to 4.4.0, creating potential security risks across virtualized environments. The flaw stems from improper input validation within the JPEG2000 decoding process, where the parser fails to adequately check array bounds when processing malformed image data, leading to memory access violations that can be exploited by malicious actors. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read category, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires specific conditions to be met, particularly the activation of virtual printing functionality within the affected VMware products. In VMware Workstation, virtual printing must be explicitly enabled by the user since it is disabled by default, whereas Horizon View Client has this feature enabled by default, making it more susceptible to exploitation in that environment. When exploited, the out-of-bounds read conditions can cause the TPView.dll component to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or more severe code execution scenarios. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the host operating system, creating a potential attack vector that extends beyond the virtual machine boundary and into the underlying Windows OS.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-4910 are significant for organizations utilizing VMware virtualization platforms, as it creates a potential pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and compromise host systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction since it can be triggered through malformed JPEG2000 image files that might be encountered during normal operations, such as when printing documents or accessing shared resources. Attackers can craft malicious image files that, when processed by the vulnerable TPView.dll component, cause the out-of-bounds read conditions to trigger. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges on the host system. The Denial of Service aspect of this vulnerability can also be leveraged to disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where virtual printing is heavily utilized, potentially causing cascading failures in virtual desktop infrastructure deployments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched versions of VMware Workstation 12.5.3 and Horizon View Client 4.4.0, which contain the necessary fixes for the JPEG2000 parser implementation. Administrators should also consider disabling virtual printing functionality in VMware Workstation environments where it is not strictly required, as this removes the attack surface for exploitation. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual image processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in software development, particularly in components that process multimedia data. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable DLL components and monitor for suspicious file processing activities within virtualized environments. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other third-party components that might be integrated into virtualized desktop and application delivery platforms.