VMSA-2011-0006.1

VMware vmrun utility local privilege escalation

1. Summary

The VMware vmrun utility is susceptible to a local privilege escalation in non-standard configurations.

2. Relevant releases

VMware VIX API for Linux 1.10.2 and earlier

VMware Workstation 7.1.3 on Linux and earlier
VMware Workstation 6.5.5 on Linux and earlier

3. Problem Description

a. VMware Linux based vmrun utility local privilege escalation
VMware vmrun is a utility that is used to perform various tasks on virtual machines. The vmrun utility runs on any platform with VIX libraries installed. It is installed in VMware Workstation by default.
In non-standard filesystem configurations, an attacker with the ability to place files into a predefined library path, could take execution control of vmrun.
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2011-1126 to this issue.
VMware would like to thank Tim Brown for reporting this issue to us.
Column 4 of the following table lists the action required to remediate the vulnerability in each release, if a solution is available.

* Refer to VMware Knowledge Base article 1035509 for the updated version of vmrun for Workstation 6.5.x.

4. Solution

Please review the patch/release notes for your product and version and verify the checksum of your downloaded file.

VIX API 1.10.3
-----------------
https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api
Release notes:

https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/VIX-1.10-ReleaseNotes.html

VIX API for Linux 32-bit
md5sum: 9229c1575359570b2e50114a97fc7d2c
sha1sum: 8ede0fcd05456d8f75a7ee48e760758e8e43b883

VIX API for Linux 64-bit
md5sum: 45bb60ec4b1e1937425b391917713db2
sha1sum: 9ec26efd9733a66e23f2e0a47f01027714fb55a4

Workstation 7.1.4
-----------------
For Linux

http://www.vmware.com/downloads/download.do?downloadGroup=WKST-714-LX Release notes:

https://www.vmware.com/support/ws71/doc/releasenotes_ws714.html

Workstation for Linux 32-bit with VMware Tools
md5sum: 5f5f25b1cfd8990e46db07788fe0adab
sha1sum: d5b4bfe0d22079988a7777dcc0f87a16b494b5f9

Workstation for Linux 32-bit without VMware Tools
md5sum: 918e8f61eab4bec4c6ca03f72bdd8fb9
sha1sum: 955b3a08375bb1fa39cb9c1c4142f13de604acf6

Workstation for Linux 64-bit with VMware Tools
md5sum: 68b424f836f63c12b071a791f80b1593
sha1sum: a7d1f461830db022af8f9d872c980fc59a83c5d6

Workstation for Linux 64-bit without VMware Tools
md5sum: f91a8c1ae911356b8eebf767db1a5873
sha1sum: 58973839c0ff6f56a9d2371a1ca1b5189b3f7bc5

Workstation 6.5.x - VMware Knowledge Base article 1035509
---------------------------------------------------------

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1035509

5. References

CVE numbers

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2011-1126

6. Change log

2011-03-29  VMSA-2011-0006
Initial security advisory in conjunction with the release of VMware
Workstation 7.1.4 and KB article 1035509.
2011-03-30  VMSA-2011-0006.1
Updated security advisory after the release of VIX API 1.10.3

7. Contact

E-mail list for product security notifications and announcements:

http://lists.vmware.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/security-announce

This Security Advisory is posted to the following lists:

* security-announce at lists.vmware.com
* bugtraq at securityfocus.com
* full-disclosure at lists.grok.org.uk

E-mail: security at vmware.com
PGP key at:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1055

VMware Security Advisories

http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories

VMware security response policy

http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/security_response.html

General support life cycle policy

http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/eos.html

VMware Infrastructure support life cycle policy

http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/eos_vi.html

Copyright 2011 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.