CVE-2017-7642 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

CVE-2017-7642, a vulnerability in the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin, allows local users to escalate privileges to root. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2017-7642

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the sudo helper of the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin, enabling local users to elevate their privileges to root.

What is CVE-2017-7642?

The vulnerability in the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin allows local users to exploit the sudo helper, leading to privilege escalation to root.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7642

Local users can exploit this vulnerability to gain root privileges by manipulating the plugin's failure to properly verify the path to the encoded ruby script or cleanse the PATH variable.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7642

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The sudo helper in the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin fails to verify the path to the encoded ruby script or cleanse the PATH variable, enabling local users to escalate privileges to root.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin
Versions affected: Prior to version 4.0.21

Exploitation Mechanism

Local users can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the plugin's failure to properly verify the path to the encoded ruby script or cleanse the PATH variable, allowing them to elevate their privileges to root.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-7642 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin to version 4.0.21 or later.
Monitor and restrict local user permissions to minimize the risk of privilege escalation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software components to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit user capabilities and reduce the impact of potential exploits.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for all relevant software components to mitigate the risk of privilege escalation.