CVE-2017-4914 in vSphere Data Protection
Summary
by MITRE
VMware vSphere Data Protection (VDP) 6.1.x, 6.0.x, 5.8.x, and 5.5.x contains a deserialization issue. Exploitation of this issue may allow a remote attacker to execute commands on the appliance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4914 represents a critical deserialization flaw within VMware vSphere Data Protection appliances across multiple versions including 6.1.x, 6.0.x, 5.8.x, and 5.5.x. This issue stems from improper input validation during the deserialization process of untrusted data, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The flaw exists in the appliance's handling of serialized objects, which allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that, when processed, can lead to arbitrary code execution on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of serialized data structures that are typically used for data transmission and storage within the vSphere Data Protection environment. When the appliance processes these serialized objects without adequate sanitization or validation, it inadvertently executes malicious code embedded within the serialized data stream. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a security risk. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it enables remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it highly dangerous in enterprise environments where vSphere Data Protection appliances are commonly deployed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected vSphere Data Protection appliance, potentially accessing sensitive backup data, credentials, and system configurations. This compromise can lead to lateral movement within the network as attackers may use the compromised appliance as a foothold to access other systems. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to backup integrity and business continuity, as attackers could manipulate or destroy backup data, potentially causing catastrophic data loss for organizations relying on these protection systems. Organizations utilizing affected versions of vSphere Data Protection are particularly vulnerable to attacks that align with the attack technique T1059.007 from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which specifically covers command and scripting interpreter execution through deserialization attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-4914 require immediate action from affected organizations to apply VMware's official security patches and updates. The vulnerability should be addressed through proper patch management protocols, with administrators prioritizing the deployment of the latest security updates provided by VMware. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the vSphere Data Protection appliance, limiting exposure to unauthorized networks and reducing the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify and remediate any additional vulnerabilities within their vSphere environments. Monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns and anomalous system behavior can help detect exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed audit logs provides crucial forensic data for incident response. The vulnerability's classification as a high-severity issue by security vendors emphasizes the importance of immediate remediation, as it represents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure and backup systems that organizations depend upon for data recovery and business continuity operations.