CVE-2017-4915 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2017-4915 affecting VMware Workstation Pro/Player. Discover the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps for this privilege escalation vulnerability.
A security flaw in VMware Workstation Pro/Player allows privilege escalation on Linux hosts.
Understanding CVE-2017-4915
What is CVE-2017-4915?
VMware Workstation Pro/Player is vulnerable to a privilege escalation issue through ALSA sound driver configuration files.
The Impact of CVE-2017-4915
If exploited, attackers could elevate privileges from an unprivileged user to root on a Linux host machine.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-4915
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability involves insecure library loading in VMware Workstation Pro/Player.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Workstation Pro/Player
- Vendor: VMware
- Versions affected: All 12.x versions prior to version 12.5.6
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers exploit the vulnerability by loading a library through ALSA sound driver configuration files.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update VMware Workstation Pro/Player to version 12.5.6 or later.
- Monitor for any unauthorized privilege escalations.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and apply security patches.
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access.
- Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches provided by VMware.