VMSA-2018-0004.3

VMware vSphere, Workstation and Fusion updates add Hypervisor-Assisted Guest Mitigations for speculative execution issue

1. Summary

VMware vSphere, Workstation and Fusion updates add Hypervisor-Assisted Guest Mitigations for speculative execution issue.

The mitigations in this advisory are categorized as Hypervisor-Assisted Guest Mitigations described by VMware Knowledge Base article 52245.

2. Relevant Products

• VMware vCenter Server (VC)
• VMware vSphere ESXi (ESXi)
• VMware Workstation Pro / Player (Workstation)
• VMware Fusion Pro / Fusion (Fusion)   

3. Problem Description

New speculative-execution control mechanism for Virtual Machines
 

Updates of vCenter Server, ESXi, Workstation and Fusion virtualize the new speculative-execution control mechanism for Virtual Machines (VMs). As a result, a patched Guest Operating System (Guest OS) can remediate the Branch Target Injection issue (CVE-2017-5715). This issue may allow for information disclosure between processes within the VM.

To remediate CVE-2017-5715 in the Guest OS the following VMware and third party requirements must be met. Please note that these points are meant to be a brief overview. For a more in-depth explaination of the mitigation process please see VMware Knowledge Base Article 52085.

VMware Requirements

• Deploy the updated version of vCenter Server listed in the table (if vCenter Server is used).
• Deploy the ESXi patches and/or the new versions for Workstation or Fusion listed in the table.
• Ensure that your VMs are using Hardware Version 9 or higher. For best performance, Hardware Version 11 or higher is recommended. VMware Knowledge Base Article 1010675 discusses Hardware Versions.

Third party Requirements

• Deploy the Guest OS patches for CVE-2017-5715. These patches are to be obtained from your OS vendor.
• Update the CPU microcode. Additional microcode is needed for your CPU to be able to expose the new MSRs that are used by the patched Guest OS. This microcode should be available from your hardware platform vendor.

Column 5 of the following table lists the action required to remediate the vulnerability in each release, if a solution is available.

* These ESXi patches provide the framework to allow guest OSes to utilize the new speculative-execution control mechanisms. These patches do not contain microcode.

 
** These ESXi patches apply the microcode updates listed in Table 1. found in VMware Knowledge Base Article 52085. These patches do not contain the aforementioned framework.

4. Solution

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

vCenter Server 6.5 U1g
Downloads:
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VC65U1G&productId=614&rPId=21946
Documentation:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/rn/vsphere-vcenter-server-65u1g-release-notes.html

vCenter Server 6.0 U3e
Downloads:
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VC60U3E&productId=491&rPId=21893

Documentation:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.0/rn/vsphere-vcenter-server-60u3e-release-notes.html

vCenter Server 5.5 U3h
Downloads: 
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VC55U3H&productId=353&rPId=22032

Documentation:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/5.5/rn/vsphere-vcenter-server-55u3h-release-notes.html

VMware ESXi 6.5
Downloads:

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

Documentation:

https://kb.vmware.com/kb/52456

VMware ESXi 6.0
Downloads:

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

Documentation:

https://kb.vmware.com/kb/52451

VMware ESXi 5.5
Downloads:

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

Documentation:

https://kb.vmware.com/kb/52446

VMware Workstation Pro, Player 14.1.1

Downloads and Documentation:
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadworkstation

https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadplayer
https://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/ws_pubs.html

VMware Workstation Pro, Player 12.5.9
Downloads and Documentation:
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_pro/12_0

https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/12_0
https://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/ws_pubs.html

VMware Fusion Pro / Fusion 8.5.10, 10.1.1
Downloads and Documentation:  
https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadfusion  
https://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/fusion_pubs.html

5. References

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-5715
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/52085
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1010675
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/52245
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/52345

6. Change log

2018-01-09: VMSA-2018-0004
Initial security advisory in conjunction with the release of VMware vCenter Server 5.5 U3g, 6.0 U3d and 6.5 U1e, ESXi 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 patches and Workstation 14.1.1, and Fusion 10.1.1 and 8.5.10 on 2018-01-09.

2018-01-10: VMSA-2018-0004.1

Updated security advisory to add Workstation 12.x version i.e. 12.5.9 which addresses CVE-2017-5715.

2018-01-12: VMSA-2018-0004.2

Updated security advisory to add KB article 52345.

2018-03-20: VMSA-2018-0004.3

Updated security advisory in conjunction with the release of ESXi 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5 patches and vCenter 6.5 U1g, 6.0 U3e, and 5.5 U3h on 2018-03-20.

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:

  [email protected]

  [email protected]

  [email protected]

E-mail: [email protected]

PGP key at:

https://kb.vmware.com/kb/1055

VMware Security Advisories

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

VMware Security Response Policy

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

VMware Lifecycle Support Phases

https://www.vmware.com/support/policies/lifecycle.html

VMware Security & Compliance Blog  

https://blogs.vmware.com/security

Twitter

https://twitter.com/VMwareSRC

Copyright 2018 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.