CVE-2017-4946 in V4H
Summary
by MITRE
The VMware V4H and V4PA desktop agents (6.x before 6.5.1) contain a privilege escalation vulnerability. Successful exploitation of this issue could result in a low privileged windows user escalating their privileges to SYSTEM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4946 affects VMware V4H and V4PA desktop agents version 6.x prior to 6.5.1, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the security posture of virtualized environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the desktop agent components within VMware's virtualization infrastructure, where a low-privileged Windows user can potentially escalate their privileges to the highest system level. The flaw exists in the way these agents handle certain system calls or access controls, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation that could be exploited by malicious actors within the network.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the desktop agent implementations, allowing local users to manipulate system resources or invoke privileged operations through flawed privilege checking routines. This issue manifests as a weakness in the security model of the virtualization layer, where the agent fails to properly validate or restrict user privileges during critical operations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all system components. Attackers exploiting this flaw could gain complete control over the affected systems, potentially leading to full network compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual system compromise, as it affects the fundamental security guarantees provided by VMware's virtualization platform. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges, enabling them to bypass traditional security controls, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistence mechanisms. This privilege escalation capability significantly amplifies the potential damage from other attacks, as it provides a pathway to full system control that could be combined with other exploitation techniques. The vulnerability affects organizations using VMware vSphere environments where these desktop agents are deployed, potentially exposing thousands of systems to unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-4946 primarily focus on updating the affected VMware desktop agents to version 6.5.1 or later, which includes patches addressing the privilege escalation flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running these agents, reduce the attack surface through proper access controls, and monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires local access to the affected system, making user access controls and monitoring essential. Security teams should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for agent services, ensuring that desktop agents operate with minimal required permissions to reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates form critical components of defense in depth strategies against this type of privilege escalation threat.