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VMware Security Advisory
Advisory ID: VMSA-2013-0010
Synopsis: VMware Workstation host privilege escalation vulnerability
Issue date: 2013-08-22
Updated on: 2013-08-22 (initial advisory)
CVE numbers: CVE-2013-1662
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1. Summary
VMware Workstation and VMware Player address a vulnerability in the
vmware-mount component which could result in a privilege escalation
on linux-based host machines.
2. Relevant releases
VMware Workstation 9.x
VMware Workstation 8.x
VMware Player 5.x
VMware Player 4.x
3. Problem Description
a. VMware mount privilege escalation
VMware Workstation and Player contain a vulnerability in the
handling of the vmware-mount command. A local malicious user may
exploit this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to root on
the host OS. The issue is present when Workstation or Player are
installed on a Debian-based version of Linux.
The vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation from the
Guest Operating System to the host or vice-versa. This means that
host memory can not be manipulated from the Guest Operating
System.
Workaround
A workaround for the issue is to remove the setuid bit from
vmware-mount:
# chmod u-s /usr/bin/vmware-mount
This workaround is relevant for both Workstation and Player.
VMware would like to thank Tavis Ormandy from the Google Security
Team for reporting this issue to us.
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org)
has assigned the name CVE-2013-1662 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
============= ======= ======= =================
Workstation 9.x Linux * See section 4. Solution
Workstation 8.x Linux * See section 4. Solution
Player 4.x Linux * See section 4. Solution
Player 5.x Linux * See section 4. Solution
Fusion any Mac/OS Not affected
ESXi any ESXi Not affected
ESX any ESX Not affected
* The issue is present if Workstation or Player is installed on a
Debian-based version of Linux (e.g. Ubuntu).
4. Solution
Please review the patch/release notes for your product and version
and verify the checksum of your downloaded file.
VMware Workstation 9.x, 8.x
---------------------------
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadworkstation
To remediate the issue, replace /usr/bin/vmware-mount on the host
with a fixed version present in the Drivers and Tools tab of the
download page for Workstation listed above.
VMware Player 5.x, 4.x
---------------------------
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadplayer
To remediate the issue, replace /usr/bin/vmware-mount on the host
with a fixed version present in the Drivers and Tools tab of the
download page for Player listed above.
5. References
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2013-1662
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6. Change log
2013-08-22 VMSA-2013-0010
Initial security advisory in conjunction with the release of
an updated version of vmware-mount for Workstation 8 and
Workstation 9 and Player 4 and Player 5.
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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.
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