Vulnerabilities > CVE-2020-3959 - Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in VMWare Esxi, Fusion and Workstation

047910
CVSS 2.1 - LOW
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
NONE
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
PARTIAL
local
low complexity
vmware
CWE-119
nessus

Summary

VMware ESXi (6.7 before ESXi670-202004101-SG and 6.5 before ESXi650-202005401-SG), VMware Workstation (15.x before 15.1.0) and VMware Fusion (11.x before 11.1.0) contain a memory leak vulnerability in the VMCI module. A malicious actor with local non-administrative access to a virtual machine may be able to crash the virtual machine's vmx process leading to a partial denial of service.

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.

Nessus

  • NASL familyMacOS X Local Security Checks
    NASL idMACOSX_FUSION_VMSA_2020_0011.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Fusion installed on the remote macOS or Mac OS X host is 11.x prior to 11.5.5. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities. Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-06-10
    modified2020-06-03
    plugin id137076
    published2020-06-03
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/137076
    titleVMware Fusion 11.x < 11.5.5 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2020-0011)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    
    include('compat.inc');
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(137076);
      script_version("1.3");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/08");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2020-3957", "CVE-2020-3958", "CVE-2020-3959");
      script_xref(name:"VMSA", value:"2020-0011");
      script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2020-A-0234");
    
      script_name(english:"VMware Fusion 11.x < 11.5.5 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2020-0011)");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
    "A virtualization application installed on the remote macOS or Mac OS X host is affected by multiple vulnerabilities");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
    "The version of VMware Fusion installed on the remote macOS or Mac OS X host is 11.x prior to 11.5.5. It is, therefore,
    affected by multiple vulnerabilities.  Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on
    the application's self-reported version number.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2020-0011.html");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://kb.vmware.com/kb/59146");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
    "Update to VMware Fusion version 11.5.5 or later.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
      script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2020-3957");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2020/05/28");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2020/05/28");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2020/06/03");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:vmware:fusion");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"I");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_family(english:"MacOS X Local Security Checks");
    
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
    
      script_dependencies("macosx_fusion_detect.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "installed_sw/VMware Fusion");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    include('vcf.inc');
    
    app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:'VMware Fusion');
    
    constraints = [
      { 'min_version' : '11.0', 'fixed_version' : '11.5.5' }
    ];
    
    vcf::check_version_and_report(app_info:app_info, constraints:constraints, severity:SECURITY_WARNING);
    
  • NASL familyVMware ESX Local Security Checks
    NASL idVMWARE_VMSA-2020-0011.NASL
    descriptionb. Denial-of-service vulnerability in Shader functionality (CVE-2020-3958) Description : VMware ESXi, Workstation and Fusion contain a denial-of-service vulnerability in the shader functionality. Exploitation of this issue requires an attacker to have access to a virtual machine with 3D graphics enabled. It is not enabled by default on ESXi. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow attackers with non-administrative access to a virtual machine to crash the virtual machine
    last seen2020-06-11
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id137047
    published2020-06-02
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/137047
    titleVMSA-2020-0011 : VMware ESXi updates address multiple security vulnerabilities
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from VMware Security Advisory 2020-0011. 
    # The text itself is copyright (C) VMware Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(137047);
      script_version("1.4");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/10");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2020-3958", "CVE-2020-3959");
      script_xref(name:"VMSA", value:"2020-0011");
      script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2020-A-0234");
    
      script_name(english:"VMSA-2020-0011 : VMware ESXi updates address multiple security vulnerabilities");
      script_summary(english:"Checks esxupdate output for the patches");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis",
        value:
    "The remote VMware ESXi host is missing one or more security-related
    patches."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description",
        value:
    "b. Denial-of-service vulnerability in Shader functionality (CVE-2020-3958)
    
    Description :
    VMware ESXi, Workstation and Fusion contain a denial-of-service
    vulnerability in the shader functionality. Exploitation of this issue
    requires an attacker to have access to a virtual machine with 3D
    graphics enabled. It is not enabled by default on ESXi.
    
    Successful exploitation of this issue may allow attackers with
    non-administrative access to a virtual machine to crash the virtual
    machine's vmx process leading to a denial of service condition.
    
    c. Memory leak vulnerability in VMCI module (CVE-2020-3959)
    Description :
    
    VMware ESXi, Workstation and Fusion contain a memory leak
    vulnerability in the VMCI module.
     
    A malicious actor with local non-administrative access to a virtual
    machine may be able to crash the virtual machine's vmx process leading
    to a partial denial of service."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2020/000496.html"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Apply the missing patches.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L");
      script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2020-3959");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:vmware:esxi:6.5");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:vmware:esxi:6.7");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2020/05/29");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2020/05/28");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2020/06/02");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"I");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"VMware ESX Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/VMware/release", "Host/VMware/version");
      script_require_ports("Host/VMware/esxupdate", "Host/VMware/esxcli_software_vibs");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("vmware_esx_packages.inc");
    
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/VMware/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "VMware ESX / ESXi");
    if (
      !get_kb_item("Host/VMware/esxcli_software_vibs") &&
      !get_kb_item("Host/VMware/esxupdate")
    ) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    init_esx_check(date:"2020-05-28");
    flag = 0;
    
    
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.5", vib:"VMware:esx-base:6.5.0-3.126.16207673")) flag++;
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.5", vib:"VMware:esx-tboot:6.5.0-3.126.16207673")) flag++;
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.5", vib:"VMware:vsan:6.5.0-3.126.15965595")) flag++;
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.5", vib:"VMware:vsanhealth:6.5.0-3.126.15965596")) flag++;
    
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.7", vib:"VMware:esx-base:6.7.0-3.99.15999342")) flag++;
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.7", vib:"VMware:esx-update:6.7.0-3.99.15999342")) flag++;
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.7", vib:"VMware:vsan:6.7.0-3.99.15853015")) flag++;
    if (esx_check(ver:"ESXi 6.7", vib:"VMware:vsanhealth:6.7.0-3.99.15853016")) flag++;
    
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_note(port:0, extra:esx_report_get());
      else security_note(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
    
  • NASL familyWindows
    NASL idVMWARE_WORKSTATION_VMSA_2020_0011.NASL
    descriptionThe version of VMware Workstation installed on the remote Windows host is 15.x prior to 15.1.0 or 15.x prior to 15.5.2. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities. Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-06-10
    modified2020-06-03
    plugin id137077
    published2020-06-03
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/137077
    titleVMware Workstation 15.x < 15.1.0 / 15.x < 15.5.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2020-0011)