CVE-2017-8931 in GravityZone VMware Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
Bitdefender GravityZone VMware appliance before 6.2.1-35 might allow attackers to gain access with root privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8931 affects the Bitdefender GravityZone VMware appliance version 6.2.1-35 and earlier, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that could enable attackers to achieve root-level access within the affected system. This vulnerability resides within the appliance's security framework and presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Bitdefender's endpoint protection solution. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw could potentially be exploited through multiple attack pathways, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must defend against various threat vectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in its ability to allow unauthorized users to escalate their privileges from standard user accounts to root access, which represents a fundamental breakdown in the appliance's access control mechanisms. Such privilege escalation vulnerabilities typically stem from improper input validation, insecure coding practices, or flawed authentication processes within the system's architecture. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue aligns with CWE-264, which specifically addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and may also relate to CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds writes that could potentially lead to privilege escalation scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape for organizations utilizing Bitdefender GravityZone appliances, as successful exploitation would provide attackers with complete administrative control over the security appliance itself. This represents a critical supply chain security concern since the appliance serves as a central point of security management and protection for endpoint devices within an organization's network. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive security data, modify security policies, disable protection mechanisms, or use the compromised appliance as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation, as it could enable attackers to manipulate security configurations, access logs and reports, and potentially interfere with the appliance's ability to detect and respond to security incidents. Organizations using older versions of the appliance may be particularly vulnerable since the fix was included in version 6.2.1-35, making it essential for security teams to conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all affected systems. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that VMware appliances often serve as centralized security management platforms, making them attractive targets for sophisticated attackers who seek persistent access to network infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment to version 6.2.1-35 or later, which would address the underlying privilege escalation flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the appliance, enforce strict access controls, and monitor for suspicious authentication attempts or privilege escalation activities. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that appropriate logging and monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should include verification that all systems have been properly updated and that no legacy configurations remain that could potentially expose the environment to continued risk. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining current security patches and the critical need for organizations to establish robust vulnerability management processes that can quickly respond to emerging threats in their security infrastructure.