CVE-2019-5540 : What You Need to Know

VMware Workstation (15.x before 15.5.1) and Fusion (11.x before 11.5.1) contain an information disclosure vulnerability in vmnetdhcp, potentially allowing an attacker on a guest VM to extract sensitive information from the host process by leaking memory.

Understanding CVE-2019-5540

This CVE involves an information disclosure vulnerability in VMware Workstation and Fusion versions.

What is CVE-2019-5540?

The vulnerability found in vmnetdhcp in VMware Workstation and Fusion versions could be exploited by an attacker on a guest VM to extract sensitive information from the host process by leaking memory.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5540

Exploiting this vulnerability may lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information on the host system, posing a risk to data confidentiality and integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5540

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in vmnetdhcp in VMware Workstation (15.x before 15.5.1) and Fusion (11.x before 11.5.1) allows attackers to disclose sensitive information by leaking memory from the host process.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Workstation and Fusion
Vendor: VMware
Versions: Workstation (15.x before 15.5.1) and Fusion (11.x before 11.5.1)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by running malicious code on a guest VM to access and leak memory from the host process.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-5540 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update VMware Workstation and Fusion to versions 15.5.1 and 11.5.1, respectively.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Regularly update and patch VMware products to address security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by VMware promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.