(PT-2008-05) Positive Technologies Security Advisory
VMware Multiple Products vmci.sys Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Affected Software
VMware
Workstation 6.0.x, 6.5.x
VMware Player 2.0.x, 2.5.x
VMware ACE 2.0.x
VMware Server 2.x
Product Link:
http://www.vmware.com
Severity Rating
Severity: Medium
Impact: Priviliege Escalation
Attack Vector: Local
CVSS v2
Base Score: 6.6
Temporal Score: 5.2
Vector: (AV:L/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C/E:P/RL:O/RC:C)
CVE: CVE-2009-1147
Vulnerability Description
Positive Technologies Research Team has discovered priviliege escalation vulnerabilities in VMware products.
The IOCTL handler in vmci.sys does not properly validate buffer data associated with the Irp object, which allows local users with administrative priviligies to gain SYSTEM privilieges..
Solution
Update to the latest product version: vmware.com.
Workstation 6.5.x Windows 6.5.2 build 156735 or later
Workstation 6.0.x Windows upgrade to at least 6.5.2
Player 2.5.x Windows 2.5.2 build 156735 or later
Player 2.0.x Windows upgrade to at least 2.5.2
ACE 2.5.x Windows 2.5.2 build 156735 or later
ACE 2.0.x Windows upgrade to at least 2.5.2
Server 2.x Windows 2.0.1 build 156745 or later
Refer to VMware KB article 1009826 on the steps that are needed to remediate this vulnerability on Windows-based hosts. This KB article is found at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1009826.
Disclosure Timeline
10.14.2008 - Vendor notified
10.16.2008 - Vendor replied
10.16.2008 - Sent detailed information
04.03.2009 - Vendor released fixed versions
04.06.2009 - Public disclosure
Credits
This vulnerability was discovered by Nikita Tarakanov, Positive Technologies Research Team.
References
http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/PT-2008-05
http://www.ptsecurity.ru/advisory.asp
Complete list of vulnerability reports published by Positive Technologies Research Team:
http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/
http://www.ptsecurity.ru/advisory.asp
About Positive Technologies
Positive Technologies www.ptsecurity.com is among the key players in the IT security market in Russia.
The principal activities of the company include the development of integrated tools for information security monitoring (MaxPatrol); providing IT security consulting services and technical support; the development of the Securitylab en.securitylab.ru leading Russian information security portal.
Among the clients of Positive Technologies there are more than 40 state enterprises, more than 50 banks and financial organizations, 20 telecommunication companies, more than 40 plant facilities, as well as IT, service and retail companies from Russia, CIS countries, Baltic States, China, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Iran, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South African Republic, Thailand, Turkey and USA.
Positive Technologies is a team of highly skilled developers, advisers and experts with years of vast hands-on experience. The company specialists possess professional titles and certificates; they are the members of various international societies and are actively involved in the IT security field development.