CVE-2019-5539 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in VMware Workstation and Horizon View Agent could allow attackers to escalate privileges on Windows machines.

Understanding CVE-2019-5539

This CVE involves a DLL hijacking vulnerability via Cortado Thinprint in VMware products.

What is CVE-2019-5539?

CVE-2019-5539 is a security vulnerability found in VMware Workstation and Horizon View Agent versions, allowing potential privilege escalation for attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5539

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers with regular user privileges to elevate their access to administrator level on Windows machines where the affected VMware products are installed.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5539

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the insecure loading of a DLL by Cortado Thinprint in VMware Workstation versions 15.x before 15.5.1 and Horizon View Agent versions 7.10.x before 7.10.1 and 7.5.x before 7.5.4.

Affected Systems and Versions

VMware Workstation: 15.x prior to 15.5.1
Horizon View Agent: 7.10.x prior to 7.10.1 and 7.5.x prior to 7.5.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the DLL hijacking vulnerability via Cortado Thinprint to escalate their privileges on Windows machines.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability is crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary security patches provided by VMware promptly.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the affected systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and applications to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that VMware Workstation and Horizon View Agent are updated to versions 15.5.1 and 7.10.1/7.5.4, respectively, to mitigate the DLL hijacking vulnerability.