CVE-2018-6972 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion versions could lead to a denial-of-service situation due to a NULL pointer dereference problem in the RPC handler.

Understanding CVE-2018-6972

What is CVE-2018-6972?

CVE-2018-6972 is a vulnerability in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion versions that allows attackers with regular user privileges to crash their virtual machines.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6972

If exploited, this vulnerability could result in a denial-of-service situation where attackers can crash their virtual machines.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6972

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is caused by a NULL pointer dereference issue in the RPC handler of VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

ESXi versions affected: 6.7 before ESXi670-201806401-BG, 6.5 before ESXi650-201806401-BG, 6.0 before ESXi600-201806401-BG, 5.5 before ESXi550-201806401-BG
Workstation version affected: 14.x before 14.1.2
Fusion version affected: 10.x before 10.1.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with regular user privileges can exploit this vulnerability to crash their virtual machines.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by VMware to address the vulnerability.
Monitor VMware's security advisories for updates and follow recommended actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update VMware products to the latest versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and user permissions to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches released by VMware to protect systems from known vulnerabilities.