VMware this week shipped security updates for its Workstation, Fusion and ESXi product lines, warning that a heap-overflow vulnerability could expose users to code execution attacks.
Tracked as CVE-2021-22045 (CVSS score of 7.7), the security vulnerability exists in the CD-ROM device emulation function of Workstation, Fusion and ESXi.
In an advisory, VMWare said the security defect could be exploited by attackers with access to a virtual machine that has CD-ROM device emulation enabled.
An attacker capable of combining the security error with additional flaws could eventually achieve code execution on the hypervisor from the virtual machine.
Disabling or disconnecting the CD-ROM/DVD devices on all running virtual machines should prevent potentially exploitation.
The company recommends logging into the vCenter Server system to disable CD-ROM device emulation. VMware also notes that Powercli can be used to list all virtual machines with a CD-ROM/DVD connected, and details a command that can be used to disable the feature for all of them.
CVE-2021-22045 affects ESXi 6.5, 6.7, and 7 versions, Workstation 16.x, and Fusion 12.x. VMware Cloud Foundation (ESXi) 4.x and 3.x are affected as well.
To date, VMware has addressed the bug with the release of ESXi670-202111101-SG, ESXi650-202110101-SG, Workstation 16.2.0, and Fusion 12.2.0. Customers are advised to apply the fixes as soon as possible.
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