VMSA-2009-0003
ESX 2.5.5 patch 12 updates service console package ed
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VMware Security Advisory
Advisory ID: VMSA-2009-0003
Synopsis: ESX 2.5.5 patch 12 updates service console package ed
Issue date: 2009-01-26
Updated on: 2009-01-26 (initial release of advisory)
CVE numbers: CVE-2008-3916
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1. Summary
ESX 2.5.5 patch 12 Build 142708 updates service console package ed
2. Relevant releases
VMware ESX 2.5.5 before patch 12
Extended support for ESX 2.5.5 ends on 2010-06-15. Users should plan
to upgrade to ESX 3.0.3 and preferably to the newest release available.
3. Problem Description
a. Updated ESX patch updates Service Console package ed
ed is a line-oriented text editor, used to create, display, and
modify text files (both interactively and via shell scripts).
A heap-based buffer overflow was discovered in the way ed, the GNU
line editor, processed long file names. An attacker could create a
file with a specially-crafted name that could possibly execute an
arbitrary code when opened in the ed editor.
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Project (cve.mitre.org)
has assigned the name CVE-2008-3916 to this issue.
The following table lists what action remediates the vulnerability
(column 4) if a solution is available.
VMware Product Running Replace with/
Product Version on Apply Patch
============= ======== ======= =================
VirtualCenter any Windows not affected
hosted * any any not affected
ESXi 3.5 ESXi not affected
ESX 3.5 ESX not affected
ESX 3.0.3 ESX not affected
ESX 3.0.2 ESX not affected
ESX 2.5.5 ESX Upgrade Patch 12
* hosted products are VMware Workstation, Player, ACE, Server, Fusion.
4. Solution
Please review the patch/release notes for your product and version
and verify the md5sum of your downloaded file.
ESX 2.5.5 Upgrade Patch 12 Build 142709
www.vmware.com/support/esx25/doc/esx-255-200902-patch.html
download3.vmware.com/software/esx/esx-2.5.5-142709-upgrade.tar.gz
md5sum: 2a0bd5cc3591b1f6b04616fa2c97f78c
5. References
CVE numbers
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-3916
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6. Change log
2009-02-20 VMSA-2009-0003
Initial security advisory after release of patch 12 for ESX 2.5.5
on 2009-02-20.
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7. Contact
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* full-disclosure at lists.grok.org.uk
E-mail: security at vmware.com
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Copyright 2009 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
