CVE-2024-37087 in vCenter Server
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2024
The vCenter Server contains a denial-of-service vulnerability. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may create a denial-of-service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37087 represents a critical denial-of-service weakness within VMware's vCenter Server platform, which serves as the central management interface for VMware vSphere environments. This flaw exposes organizations to potential operational disruptions that can severely impact their virtualized infrastructure management capabilities. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's ability to maintain normal service availability, creating a condition where authorized and unauthorized actors can potentially disrupt critical system operations. Given that vCenter Server functions as the cornerstone of VMware virtualization management, any compromise that leads to service disruption can cascade across entire datacenter operations, affecting multiple virtual machines, resource pools, and management functions that depend on centralized control.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and resource handling mechanisms within the vCenter Server's processing logic. Attackers with network access to the target system can exploit this weakness by crafting specific malicious requests or data inputs that cause the server to enter an unstable state or consume excessive resources. This typically involves sending malformed requests that trigger unexpected behavior in the server's processing pipelines, leading to service degradation or complete system unavailability. The flaw likely exists in how the system handles certain network protocols or API calls that are processed through the vCenter Server's management interface, creating a path for resource exhaustion or process termination that results in denial-of-service conditions. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400 which covers unspecified resource exhaustion, and potentially CWE-129 which addresses insufficient input validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-37087 extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass significant business continuity risks for organizations relying on VMware virtualization infrastructure. When vCenter Server becomes unavailable, system administrators lose the ability to manage virtual machines, monitor resource utilization, perform maintenance operations, or respond to incidents effectively. This disruption can lead to cascading failures throughout the virtualized environment, as automated processes and monitoring systems that depend on centralized management cease to function properly. The vulnerability's accessibility to network-based attackers means that even organizations with firewalled environments may face risks if proper network segmentation and access controls are not implemented. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service, and potentially T1566.001 for initial access through network services, making it a critical target for threat actors seeking to disrupt business operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to vCenter Server components, deployment of network access controls to restrict unauthorized access attempts, and implementation of monitoring solutions that can detect unusual traffic patterns or service disruptions. Regular patch management programs should be prioritized to ensure timely deployment of VMware's security updates addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing redundant management paths and backup procedures to maintain operational continuity during potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potential entry points and ensure that their overall security posture remains robust against similar threats. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining updated security controls and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect critical management infrastructure from both internal and external threats.