CVE-2023-34044 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-34044, an information disclosure vulnerability in the Bluetooth device-sharing functionality of VMware Workstation and Fusion.

Understanding CVE-2023-34044

CVE-2023-34044 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects VMware Workstation versions prior to 17.5 and VMware Fusion versions prior to 13.5. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine to access privileged information contained in hypervisor memory.

What is CVE-2023-34044?

The vulnerability in VMware Workstation and Fusion allows attackers to exploit the Bluetooth device-sharing functionality to read sensitive data from the hypervisor memory, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality of information.

The Impact of CVE-2023-34044

The impact of CVE-2023-34044 is rated as high severity, with a CVSS base score of 7.1. It could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in hypervisor memory.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-34044

CVE-2023-34044 is characterized by a low attack complexity and a local attack vector. The confidentiality impact is high, with no integrity impact. The vulnerability requires no special privileges or user interaction to be exploited.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of Bluetooth device-sharing functionality in VMware Workstation and Fusion, leading to an out-of-bounds read issue that allows unauthorized access to hypervisor memory.

Affected Systems and Versions

VMware Workstation versions prior to 17.5 and VMware Fusion versions prior to 13.5 are affected by CVE-2023-34044.

Exploitation Mechanism

A malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine can exploit the Bluetooth device-sharing functionality to read privileged information stored in hypervisor memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-34044, users are advised to take immediate steps and adopt long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement security best practices, restrict access to virtual machines, and monitor for any unauthorized activities that may indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update VMware Workstation and Fusion to the latest versions, apply security patches promptly, and conduct security assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Refer to VMware's security advisory VMSA-2023-0022 for guidance on applying patches and updates to address CVE-2023-34044.