Vulnerabilities > CVE-2017-4901 - Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in VMWare Fusion and Workstation

047910
CVSS 7.5 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
vmware
CWE-119
nessus
exploit available

Summary

The drag-and-drop (DnD) function in VMware Workstation 12.x before version 12.5.4 and Fusion 8.x before version 8.5.5 has an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability. This may allow a guest to execute code on the operating system that runs Workstation or Fusion.

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
    This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the attacker finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
  • Overflow Buffers
    Buffer Overflow attacks target improper or missing bounds checking on buffer operations, typically triggered by input injected by an attacker. As a consequence, an attacker is able to write past the boundaries of allocated buffer regions in memory, causing a program crash or potentially redirection of execution as per the attackers' choice.
  • Client-side Injection-induced Buffer Overflow
    This type of attack exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in targeted client software through injection of malicious content from a custom-built hostile service.
  • Filter Failure through Buffer Overflow
    In this attack, the idea is to cause an active filter to fail by causing an oversized transaction. An attacker may try to feed overly long input strings to the program in an attempt to overwhelm the filter (by causing a buffer overflow) and hoping that the filter does not fail securely (i.e. the user input is let into the system unfiltered).
  • MIME Conversion
    An attacker exploits a weakness in the MIME conversion routine to cause a buffer overflow and gain control over the mail server machine. The MIME system is designed to allow various different information formats to be interpreted and sent via e-mail. Attack points exist when data are converted to MIME compatible format and back.

Exploit-Db

idEDB-ID:47714
last seen2019-11-25
modified2017-08-08
published2017-08-08
reporterExploit-DB
sourcehttps://www.exploit-db.com/download/47714
titleVMware WorkStation 12.5.5 - Virtual Machine Escape

Nessus

  • NASL familyGeneral
    NASL idVMWARE_PLAYER_LINUX_VMSA_2017_0005.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Player installed on the remote Linux host is 12.x prior to 12.5.4. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND) functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the host system.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id97989
    published2017-03-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97989
    titleVMware Player 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005) (Linux)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(97989);
      script_version("1.8");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/11/13");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2017-4901");
      script_bugtraq_id(96881);
      script_xref(name:"VMSA", value:"2017-0005");
    
      script_name(english:"VMware Player 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005) (Linux)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks the VMware Player version.");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
    "A virtualization application installed on the remote Linux host is
    affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
    "The version of VMware Player installed on the remote Linux host
    is 12.x prior to 12.5.4. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host
    arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND)
    functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker
    within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the
    host system.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2017-0005.html");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
    "Upgrade to VMware Player version 12.5.4 or later.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:H/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H");
      script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:H/RL:O/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2017-4901");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_malware", value:"true");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/03/14");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/03/14");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/03/27");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:vmware:player");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_family(english:"General");
    
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
    
      script_dependencies("vmware_player_linux_installed.nbin");
      script_require_keys("Host/VMware Player/Version");
      script_exclude_keys("SMB/Registry/Enumerated");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    if (get_kb_item("SMB/Registry/Enumerated")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Linux", "Windows");
    
    version = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/VMware Player/Version");
    
    fix = '';
    if (version =~ "^12\.") fix = '12.5.4';
    
    if (!empty(fix) && ver_compare(ver:version, fix:fix, strict:FALSE) < 0)
    {
      report +=
        '\n  Installed version : ' + version +
        '\n  Fixed version     : ' + fix +
        '\n';
      security_report_v4(port:0, extra:report, severity:SECURITY_HOLE);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_INST_VER_NOT_VULN, "VMware Player", version);
    
  • NASL familyWindows
    NASL idVMWARE_PLAYER_WIN_VMSA_2017_0005.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Player installed on the remote Windows host is 12.x prior to 12.5.4. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND) functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the host system.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id97990
    published2017-03-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97990
    titleVMware Player 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(97990);
      script_version("1.8");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/11/13");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2017-4901");
      script_bugtraq_id(96881);
      script_xref(name:"VMSA", value:"2017-0005");
    
      script_name(english:"VMware Player 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks the VMware Player version.");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
    "A virtualization application installed on the remote Windows host is
    affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
    "The version of VMware Player installed on the remote Windows host
    is 12.x prior to 12.5.4. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host
    arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND)
    functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker
    within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the
    host system.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2017-0005.html");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
    "Upgrade to VMware Player version 12.5.4 or later.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:H/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H");
      script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:H/RL:O/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2017-4901");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_malware", value:"true");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/03/14");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/03/14");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/03/27");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:vmware:player");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_family(english:"Windows");
    
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
    
      script_dependencies("vmware_player_detect.nasl");
      script_require_keys("SMB/Registry/Enumerated", "installed_sw/VMware Player");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("install_func.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    get_kb_item_or_exit("SMB/Registry/Enumerated");
    
    install = get_single_install(app_name:"VMware Player", exit_if_unknown_ver:TRUE);
    version = install['version'];
    path = install['path'];
    
    fix = '';
    if (version =~ "^12\.") fix = '12.5.4';
    
    if (!empty(fix) && ver_compare(ver:version, fix:fix, strict:FALSE) < 0)
    {
      port = get_kb_item("SMB/transport");
      if (!port) port = 445;
    
      report +=
        '\n  Path              : ' + path +
        '\n  Installed version : ' + version +
        '\n  Fixed version     : ' + fix +
        '\n';
      security_report_v4(port:port, extra:report, severity:SECURITY_HOLE);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_INST_PATH_NOT_VULN, "VMware Player", version, path);
    
  • NASL familyMacOS X Local Security Checks
    NASL idMACOSX_FUSION_VMSA_2017_0005.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Fusion installed on the remote macOS or Mac OS X host is 8.x prior to 8.5.5. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND) functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the host system.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id97939
    published2017-03-24
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97939
    titleVMware Fusion 8.x < 8.5.5 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005) (macOS)
  • NASL familyWindows
    NASL idVMWARE_WORKSTATION_WIN_VMSA_2017_0005.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Workstation installed on the remote Windows host is 12.x prior to 12.5.4. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND) functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the host system.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id97941
    published2017-03-24
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97941
    titleVMware Workstation 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005)
  • NASL familyGeneral
    NASL idVMWARE_WORKSTATION_LINUX_VMSA_2017_0005.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Workstation installed on the remote Linux host is 12.x prior to 12.5.4. It is, therefore, affected by a guest-to-host arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the drag-and-drop (DND) functionality due to an out-of-bounds memory access error. An attacker within a guest can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on the host system.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id97940
    published2017-03-24
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97940
    titleVMware Workstation 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005) (Linux)