VMware vSphere Client 4.0/4.1/5.0/5.1 URL input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in VMware vSphere Client 4.0/4.1/5.0/5.1. Impacted is an unknown function of the component URL Handler. The manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2014-1209. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in VMware vSphere Client 4.0/4.1/5.0/5.1 (Virtualization Software) and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown functionality of the component URL Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is confidentiality, and integrity. The summary by CVE is:

VMware vSphere Client 4.0, 4.1, 5.0 before Update 3, and 5.1 before Update 2 does not properly validate updates to Client files, which allows remote attackers to trigger the downloading and execution of an arbitrary program via unspecified vectors.

The weakness was published 04/10/2014 with Recurity Labs/BSI as VMSA-2014-0003 as confirmed advisory (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at vmware.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2014-1209 since 01/07/2014. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The advisory points out:

vSphere Client contains a vulnerability in accepting an updated vSphere Client file from an untrusted source. The vulnerability may allow a host to direct vSphere Client to download and execute an arbitrary file from any URI. This issue can be exploited if the host has been compromised or if a user has been tricked into clicking a malicious link.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 73469 (VMSA-2014-0003 : VMware vSphere Client updates address security vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family VMware ESX Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 216066 (VMware ESXi 4.0.0 Patch Release ESXi400-201404001 Missing (KB2068805)).

Upgrading to version 5.0 Update 3 or 5.1 Update 2 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (73469), SecurityFocus (BID 66772†), Secunia (SA57885†), SecurityTracker (ID 1030055†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-43995†). kb.vmware.com is providing further details. Similar entry is available at VDB-12876. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 73469
Nessus Name: VMSA-2014-0003 : VMware vSphere Client updates address security vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 105012
OpenVAS Name: VMSA-2014-0003 VMware vSphere Client updates address security vulnerabilities
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: vSphere Client 5.0 Update 3/5.1 Update 2

Timelineinfo

01/07/2014 🔍
04/10/2014 +93 days 🔍
04/10/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/11/2014 +1 days 🔍
04/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/13/2014 +2 days 🔍
04/14/2014 +1 days 🔍
05/10/2026 +4409 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: vmware.com

Advisory: VMSA-2014-0003
Organization: Recurity Labs/BSI
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2014-1209 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-1209
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-12875

IAVM: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 66772 - vSphere Client CVE-2014-1209 Arbitrary File Download Vulnerability
Secunia: 57885 - VMware vSphere Client Two Spoofing Vulnerabilities, Less Critical
SecurityTracker: 1030055 - VMware vSphere Client Bugs Let Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code and Spoof Servers
Vulnerability Center: 43995 - VMware vSphere Client 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1 Remote Insecure Client Download and Code Execution, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20060413
Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 04/14/2014 09:57
Updated: 05/10/2026 12:23
Changes: 04/14/2014 09:57 (90), 05/25/2017 10:18 (2), 06/16/2021 20:33 (3), 05/10/2026 12:23 (15)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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