CVE-2017-4946 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the VMware V4H and V4PA desktop agents (versions 6.x up to 6.5.1) that could potentially allow a low privileged Windows user to elevate their privileges to SYSTEM level. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2017-4946

What is CVE-2017-4946?

The CVE-2017-4946 vulnerability exists in the VMware V4H and V4PA desktop agents, allowing a low privileged Windows user to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level.

The Impact of CVE-2017-4946

This vulnerability could result in unauthorized privilege escalation, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-4946

Vulnerability Description

The VMware V4H and V4PA desktop agents (6.x before 6.5.1) contain a privilege escalation vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: vRealize Operations for Horizon (V4H)
Vendor: VMware
Versions Affected: 6.x before 6.5.1
Product: vRealize Operations for Published Applications (V4PA)
Vendor: VMware
Versions Affected: 6.x before 6.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Successful exploitation of this issue could result in a low privileged Windows user escalating their privileges to SYSTEM level.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected systems to version 6.5.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access rights.
Regularly review and update security configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by VMware to address the privilege escalation vulnerability.