CVE-2021-22042 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2021-22042, an unauthorized access vulnerability in VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation, enabling malicious actors to exploit high privileged services.
VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation are affected by an unauthorized access vulnerability, which allows a malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process to access the settingsd service running as a high privileged user.
Understanding CVE-2021-22042
This CVE impacts VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation, potentially leading to unauthorized access.
What is CVE-2021-22042?
CVE-2021-22042 is an unauthorized access vulnerability in VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation, allowing privileged malicious actors to access high privileged settingsd service.
The Impact of CVE-2021-22042
The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers with privileges within the VMX process to gain unauthorized access to sensitive services.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-22042
The unauthorized access vulnerability in VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation allows malicious actors to exploit the settingsd service.
Vulnerability Description
VMware ESXi contains the vulnerability due to VMX having access to settingsd authorization tickets, enabling unauthorized access to the high privileged settingsd service.
Affected Systems and Versions
VMware ESXi 7.0 U3 before ESXi70U3c-19193900, 7.0 U2 before ESXi70U2e-19290878, 7.0 U1 before ESXi70U1e-19324898, and VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x before 4.4 are affected.
Exploitation Mechanism
A malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process can exploit the vulnerability to access settingsd service as a high privileged user.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-22042, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and patching are essential.
Immediate Steps to Take
Ensure timely security updates and monitoring of privileged accesses to prevent unauthorized exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement strict access controls, conduct regular security audits, and educate users on cybersecurity best practices.
Patching and Updates
Apply the necessary patches provided by VMware to address the unauthorized access vulnerability in VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation.