CVE-2019-5516 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

VMware released updates for ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion to address a vertex shader out-of-bounds read vulnerability. This CVE affects specific versions of the mentioned products and could lead to information disclosure or denial-of-service attacks.

Understanding CVE-2019-5516

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability related to the vertex shader functionality in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion.

What is CVE-2019-5516?

The CVE-2019-5516 vulnerability involves an out-of-bounds read issue in the vertex shader functionality of VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion products.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5516

Exploiting this vulnerability requires access to a virtual machine with 3D graphics enabled. Successful exploitation could result in information disclosure or the ability for attackers with normal user privileges to create a denial-of-service condition on their own virtual machine.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5516

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is related to an out-of-bounds read in the vertex shader functionality of VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion.

Affected Systems and Versions

ESXi: 6.7 before ESXi670-201904101-SG, 6.5 before ESXi650-201903001
Workstation: 15.x before 15.0.3, 14.x before 14.1.6
Fusion: 11.x before 11.0.3, 10.x before 10.1.6

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs access to a virtual machine with 3D graphics enabled.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5516 is crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the 3D-acceleration feature on Workstation and Fusion if not needed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update VMware products to the latest versions.
Implement strong access controls to limit exposure to potential attackers.

Patching and Updates

Apply the following updates to mitigate the vulnerability:

ESXi: ESXi670-201904101-SG, ESXi650-201903001
Workstation: 15.0.3, 14.1.6
Fusion: 11.0.3, 10.1.6