CVE-2017-4947 in vRealize Automation
Summary
by MITRE
VMware Realize Automation (7.3 and 7.2) and vSphere Integrated Containers (1.x before 1.3) contain a deserialization vulnerability via Xenon. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the appliance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4947 represents a critical deserialization flaw affecting VMware Realize Automation versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as vSphere Integrated Containers versions 1.x prior to 1.3. This issue resides within the Xenon framework component that serves as the underlying platform for these VMware products. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during the object deserialization process, creating an avenue for remote code execution attacks. The flaw specifically manifests when the affected systems process untrusted data through the deserialization mechanism, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed within the context of the target appliance.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a critical weakness in software systems. This classification indicates that the vulnerability occurs when applications deserialize data from untrusted sources without proper validation or sanitization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted serialized objects to the vulnerable systems, which then deserialize these objects without adequate security checks. The exploitation process typically involves creating malicious serialized data that, when processed by the vulnerable deserialization logic, triggers arbitrary code execution on the target system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged for remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable attackers to gain full control over the affected VMware appliances. Successful exploitation allows adversaries to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected service, potentially leading to complete system compromise and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments that rely on VMware's automation and container orchestration platforms, creating potential risks for organizations managing critical infrastructure components. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face significant exposure to sophisticated attacks that could result in data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise resources. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can target these systems from outside the network perimeter, increasing the attack surface and reducing the effectiveness of traditional network-based security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-4947 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. VMware released patches for both Realize Automation and vSphere Integrated Containers that address the deserialization vulnerability through improved input validation and enhanced serialization security measures. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these vulnerable systems, particularly restricting direct internet access to the affected appliances. Additional protective measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious deserialization patterns and implementing runtime application protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent malicious deserialization attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege by limiting the permissions of the affected services and regularly reviewing access controls to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in preventing deserialization attacks, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1133 for external remote services.