-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- VMware Security Advisory Advisory ID: VMSA-2013-0016 Synopsis: VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through vCenter Server and ESX Issue date: 2013-12-22 Updated on: 2013-12-22 (initial advisory) CVE numbers: CVE-2013-5973 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Summary VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through vCenter Server and ESX 2. Relevant releases VMware ESXi 5.5 without patch ESXi550-201312001 VMware ESXi 5.1 without patch ESXi510-201310001 VMware ESXi 5.0 without patch update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update03 VMware ESXi 4.1 without patch ESXi410-201312001 VMware ESXi 4.0 without patch ESXi400-201310001 VMware ESX 4.1 without patch ESX410-201312001 VMware ESX 4.0 without patch ESX400-201310001 3. Problem Description a. VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through vCenter Server and ESX VMware ESXi and ESX contain a vulnerability in the handling of certain Virtual Machine file descriptors. This issue may allow an unprivileged vCenter Server user with the privilege “Add Existing Disk" to obtain read and write access to arbitrary files on ESXi or ESX. On ESX, an unprivileged local user may obtain read and write access to arbitrary files. Modifying certain files may allow for code execution after a host reboot. Unprivileged vCenter Server users or groups that are assigned the predefined role "Virtual Machine Power User" or "Resource Pool Administrator" have the privilege "Add Existing Disk". The issue cannot be exploited through VMware vCloud Director. Workaround A workaround is provided in VMware Knowledge Base article 2066856. Mitigation In a default vCenter Server installation no unprivileged users or groups are assigned the predefined role "Virtual Machine Power User" or "Resource Pool Administrator". Restrict the number of vCenter Server users that have the privilege “Add Existing Disk". VMware would like to thank Shanon Olsson for reporting this issue to us through JPCERT. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2013-5973 to this issue. Column 4 of the following table lists the action required to remediate the vulnerability in each release, if a solution is available. VMware Product Running Replace with/ Product Version on Apply Patch * ============= ======= ======= ================= ESXi 5.5 ESXi ESXi550-201312101-SG ESXi 5.1 ESXi ESXi510-201310101-SG ESXi 5.0 ESXi ESXi500-201310101-SG ESXi 4.1 ESXi ESXi410-201312401-SG ESXi 4.0 ESXi ESXi400-201310401-SG ESX 4.1 ESX ESX410-201312401-SG ESX 4.0 ESX ESX400-201310401-SG * Known Issues Deploying these patches does not remediate the issue if the ESXi or ESX file /etc/vmware/configrules has been modified manually (modifying this file is uncommon). Customers who have modified this file should apply the workaround after installing the patch. After deploying the patches, Virtual Machines that have their names ending in "-flat", "-rdm" or "-rdmp" will no longer power on. See the VMware Knowledge Base article listed under "Workaround" for a solution. 4. Solution Please review the patch/release notes for your product and version and verify the checksum of your downloaded file. ESXi and ESX ------------ https://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/download.portal ESXi 5.5 -------- File: ESXi550-201312001.zip md5sum: c2edc6fbe983709a5a643fe5e03c055b sha1sum: df55f419056b2dab25e28ca87ccdd8a099849a40 http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2063795 ESXi550-201312001 contains ESXi550-201312101-SG ESXi 5.1 -------- File: ESXi510-201310001.zip md5sum: 00b6a97b3042dc45da52e20b67666387 sha1sum: 8b0e2e832d0c603991718da17e1f73de4f0969cc http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2053402 ESXi510-201310001 contains ESXi510-201310101-SG ESXi 5.0 ------------------ File: update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update03.zip md5sum: 7e6185fa3238a4895613b39e57a2a94b sha1sum: aa3929d2c8183aeaecdc238cbbf4d270bd70dd07 http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2055559 update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update03 contains ESXi500-201310101-SG ESXi 4.1 ------------------ File: ESXi410-201312001.zip md5sum: f85c0c449513b88b22f19a5f11966d5e sha1sum: cfde5abbef77976b76d55813ae1e7bbbbca25b7b http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2061210 ESXi410-201312001 contains ESXi410-201312401-SG ESXi 4.0 ------------------ File: ESX400-201310001.zip md5sum: 9d47cf815ed142a17f97002379b5e386 sha1sum: 91082ec4263333f9b996883cb53dbe9aab7a88b5 http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2059495 ESX400-201310001 contains ESXi400-201310401-SG ESX 4.1 ------------------ File: ESX410-201312001.zip md5sum: c35763a84db169dd0285442d4129cc18 sha1sum: ee8e1b8d2d383422ff0dde04749c5d89e77d8e40 http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2061209 ESX410-201312001 contains ESX410-201312401-SG ESX 4.0 ------------------ File: ESX400-201310001.zip md5sum: 9d47cf815ed142a17f97002379b5e386 sha1sum: 91082ec4263333f9b996883cb53dbe9aab7a88b5 http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2059495 ESX400-201310001 contains ESX400-201310401-SG 5. References VMware Knowledge Base article KB2066856 http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2066856 http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2013-5973 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Change log 2013-12-22 VMSA-2013-0016 Initial security advisory in conjunction with the release of ESXi 5.5 patches on 2013-12-22 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Contact E-mail list for product security notifications and announcements: http://lists.vmware.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/security-announce This Security Advisory is posted to the following lists: * security-announce at lists.vmware.com * bugtraq at securityfocus.com * full-disclosure at lists.grok.org.uk E-mail: security at vmware.com PGP key at: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1055 VMware Security Advisories http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories VMware security response policy http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/security_response.html General support life cycle policy http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/eos.html VMware Infrastructure support life cycle policy http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/eos_vi.html Copyright 2013 VMware Inc. All rights reserved. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: Encryption Desktop 10.3.0 (Build 8741) Charset: utf-8 wj8DBQFStz/5DEcm8Vbi9kMRAm/zAKCk/DZkdQF9Q7jafhtk+tvCg39bqACfUGc4 dBB5q6VPIUUcaWflLOwXBI8= =7LeT -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----