CVE-2018-6971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2018-6971 affecting VMware Horizon View Agents. Discover the impact, affected versions, exploitation details, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.
VMware Horizon View Agents (version 7.x.x before 7.5.1) have a vulnerability that exposes local information through insecure logging of credentials.
Understanding CVE-2018-6971
What is CVE-2018-6971?
The vulnerability in VMware Horizon View Agents allows low-privileged users to access credentials logged in the vmmsi.log file during installation.
The Impact of CVE-2018-6971
If exploited, users with low privileges can gain access to credentials provided during the installation of Horizon View Agent, compromising sensitive information.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-6971
Vulnerability Description
- Insecure logging of credentials in the vmmsi.log file exposes sensitive information.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Horizon View Agent
- Vendor: VMware
- Versions Affected: 7.x.x before 7.5.1
Exploitation Mechanism
- Successful exploitation occurs when an account other than the currently logged on user is specified during installation.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to version 7.5.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor system logs for any unauthorized access.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights.
- Regularly review and update security configurations.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security patches and updates provided by VMware to address the vulnerability.