VMSA-2016-0001

VMware ESXi, Fusion, Player, and Workstation updates address important guest privilege escalation vulnerability

VMware Security Advisory

VMware Security Advisory Advisory ID:

VMSA-2016-0001

VMware Security Advisory Synopsis:

VMware ESXi, Fusion, Player, and Workstation updates address important guest privilege escalation vulnerability

VMware Security Advisory Issue date:

2016-01-07

VMware Security Advisory Updated on:

2016-01-07 (initial advisory)

VMware Security Advisory CVE numbers:

CVE-2015-6933

1. Summary

VMware ESXi, Fusion, Player, and Workstation updates address important guest privilege escalation vulnerability

2. Relevant Releases

VMware ESXi 6.0 without patch ESXi600-201601102-SG
VMware ESXi 5.5 without patch ESXi550-201512102-SG
VMware ESXi 5.1 without patch ESXi510-201510102-SG
VMware ESXi 5.0 without patch ESXi500-201510102-SG

VMware Workstation prior to 11.1.2

VMware Player prior to 7.1.2

VMware Fusion prior to 7.1.2

3. Problem Description

Important Windows-based guest privilege escalation in VMware Tools

A kernel memory corruption vulnerability is present in the VMware Tools "Shared Folders" (HGFS) feature running on Microsoft Windows. Successful exploitation of this issue could lead to an escalation of privilege in the guest operating system.

VMware would like to thank Dmitry Janushkevich from the Secunia Research Team for reporting this issue to us.

Note: This vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation from the guest operating system to the host. Host memory can not be manipulated from the guest operating system by exploiting this flaw.

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the identifier CVE-2015-6933 to this issue.

Workarounds
Removing the "Shared Folders" (HGFS) feature from previously installed VMware Tools will remove the possibility of exploitation.

Column 4 of the following table lists the action required to remediate the vulnerability in each release, if a solution is available.

VMware Product

Product Version

Running on

Replace with/ Apply Patch

VMware Product VMware ESXi

Product Version 6.0

Running on ESXi

Replace with/ Apply Patch ESXi600-201601102-SG

VMware Product VMware ESXi

Product Version 5.5

Running on ESXi

Replace with/ Apply Patch ESXi550-201512102-SG

VMware Product VMware ESXi

Product Version 5.1

Running on ESXi

Replace with/ Apply Patch ESXi510-201510102-SG

VMware Product VMware ESXi

Product Version 5.0

Running on ESXi

Replace with/ Apply Patch ESXi500-201510102-SG

VMware Product VMware Workstation

Product Version 12.x.x

Running on any

Replace with/ Apply Patch not affected

VMware Product VMware Workstation

Product Version 11.x.x

Running on any

Replace with/ Apply Patch 11.1.2

VMware Product VMware Player

Product Version 12.x.x

Running on any

Replace with/ Apply Patch not affected

VMware Product VMware Player

Product Version 7.x.x

Running on any

Replace with/ Apply Patch 7.1.2

VMware Product VMware Fusion

Product Version 8.x.x

Running on OSX

Replace with/ Apply Patch not affected

VMware Product VMware Fusion

Product Version 7.x.x

Running on OSX

Replace with/ Apply Patch 7.1.2

*After the update or patch is applied, VMware Tools must also be updated in any Windows-based guests that include the "Shared Folders" (HGFS) feature to resolve CVE-2015-6933. The affected "Shared Folders" (HGFS) feature is installed by default on hosted (Workstation, Fusion, Player) products only. Alternatively, version 10.0.0 of VMware Tools is available for independent download and includes the fix.

4. Solution

Please review the patch/release notes for your product and version and verify the checksum of your downloaded file.

VMware ESXi 6.0
Downloads:
https://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/findPatch.portal

Documentation:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2135123

VMware ESXi 5.5
Downloads:
https://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/findPatch.portal

Documentation:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2135796

VMware ESXi 5.1
Downloads:
https://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/findPatch.portal
Documentation:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2126488

VMware ESXi 5.0
Downloads:
https://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/findPatch.portal
Documentation:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2120210

VMware Workstation 11.1.2
Downloads and Documentation:
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadworkstation

VMware Player 7.1.2
Downloads and Documentation:
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadplayer

VMware Fusion 7.1.2
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadfusion

VMware Tools 10.0.0
Downloads:
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VMTOOLS1000&productId=491

Documentation:
https://pubs.vmware.com/Release_Notes/en/vmwaretools/1000/vmware-tools-1000-release-notes.html