VMware ESXi Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2019-5544) Threat Alert

Overview

On December 5, local time, VMware officially released a security advisory that revealed a remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2019-5544) in VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS. The vulnerability is due to a heap overwrite issue in OpenSLP used in ESXi and Horizon DaaS appliances. Malicious users with access to port 427 on the ESXi host or any Horizon DaaS platform through the network may overwrite the heap of the OpenSLP service, eventually causing remote code execution.

VMware has evaluated this issue and rated it severe with a CVSSv3 score of 9.8. The vulnerability was reported to VMware by 360Vulcan team and Tianfu Cup organizers.

Reference link:

https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0022.html

Affected Products and Patches

Security Recommendations

VMware has provided patches and mitigation measures for ESXi to fix this vulnerability. Affected users should download the updates from the following addresses as soon as possible for risk aversion. The patch for Horizon DaaS is still in preparation. Users are advised to check VMware’s official security advisories from time to time so as to obtain the latest updates immediately after they are available:

• ESXi 6.7 patch ESXi670-201912001

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/rn/esxi670-201912001.html

• ESXi 6.5 patch ESXi650-201912001

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/rn/esxi650-201912001.html

• ESXi 6.0 patch ESXi600-201912001

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.0/rn/esxi600-201912001.html

• Mitigation measures:

ESXi 6.x https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/76372

Statement

This advisory is only used to describe a potential risk. NSFOCUS does not provide any commitment or promise on this advisory. NSFOCUS and the author will not bear any liability for any direct and/or indirect consequences and losses caused by transmitting and/or using this advisory. NSFOCUS reserves all the rights to modify and interpret this advisory. Please include this statement paragraph when reproducing or transferring this advisory. Do not modify this advisory, add/delete any information to/from it, or use this advisory for commercial purposes without permission from NSFOCUS.

About NSFOCUS

NSFOCUS, Inc., a global network and cyber security leader, protects enterprises and carriers from advanced cyber attacks. The company’s Intelligent Hybrid Security strategy utilizes both cloud and on-premises security platforms, built on a foundation of real-time global threat intelligence, to provide multi-layered, unified and dynamic protection against advanced cyber attacks.

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