CVE-2017-4952 in Xenon
Summary
by MITRE
VMware Xenon 1.x prior to 1.5.7, 1.5.4, 1.3.7, and 1.1.0 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability due to insufficient access controls for utility endpoints. Successful exploitation of this issue may result in information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4952 affects VMware Xenon versions prior to 1.5.7, 1.5.4, 1.3.7, and 1.1.0, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within utility endpoints. This issue resides within the VMware Xenon platform, which serves as a foundational component for various virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions, making its exploitation particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on VMware's virtualization technologies. The vulnerability specifically targets the insufficient access controls that should normally prevent unauthorized access to administrative utility endpoints, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass standard authentication procedures.
The technical flaw manifests through the lack of proper authorization checks on utility endpoints that are intended to be restricted to authorized administrative users only. These endpoints typically handle sensitive configuration data, system management functions, and operational controls that should remain protected from unauthorized access. When access controls are insufficient, attackers can potentially invoke these utility functions without proper authentication credentials, effectively gaining administrative privileges or access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern access to system management interfaces. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the authentication and authorization framework that should normally enforce strict access controls on critical system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the VMware Xenon environment. This access could potentially lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the ability to modify system configurations in ways that could disrupt operations or create backdoors for persistent access. Organizations relying on affected VMware Xenon versions face significant risk, particularly in environments where virtualization infrastructure serves as a critical component of their IT architecture. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams indicates a widespread issue that affected various deployment scenarios, from small business implementations to large enterprise data centers. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and T1005 which covers Data from Local System, highlighting the potential for both credential abuse and data extraction.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-4952 require immediate patching of affected VMware Xenon installations to versions 1.5.7, 1.5.4, 1.3.7, or 1.1.0 respectively, depending on the specific version in use. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to utility endpoints and ensure that only trusted administrative networks can reach these sensitive interfaces. Additional security measures include enabling multi-factor authentication for administrative access, implementing strict firewall rules to limit access to utility endpoints, and conducting thorough network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust access control mechanisms. Security teams should also perform comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential access control weaknesses within their VMware environments and related infrastructure components. Regular security audits and access reviews should be conducted to ensure that administrative interfaces remain properly protected against unauthorized access attempts.