NEW VMSA-2013-0016 VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through vCenter Server and ESX

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VMware Security Advisory

Advisory ID: VMSA-2013-0016
Synopsis: VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through
vCenter Server and ESX
Issue date: 2013-12-22
Updated on: 2013-12-22 (initial advisory)
CVE numbers: CVE-2013-5973

1. Summary

   VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through vCenter
   Server and ESX

2. Relevant releases

   VMware ESXi 5.5 without patch ESXi550-201312001
   VMware ESXi 5.1 without patch ESXi510-201310001
   VMware ESXi 5.0 without patch update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update03
   VMware ESXi 4.1 without patch ESXi410-201312001
   VMware ESXi 4.0 without patch ESXi400-201310001

   VMware ESX 4.1 without patch ESX410-201312001
   VMware ESX 4.0 without patch ESX400-201310001

3. Problem Description

a. VMware ESXi and ESX unauthorized file access through vCenter Server and
ESX

  VMware ESXi and ESX contain a vulnerability in the handling of
  certain Virtual Machine file descriptors. This issue may allow an
  unprivileged vCenter Server user with the privilege “Add Existing

Disk"
to obtain read and write access to arbitrary files on ESXi or ESX.
On ESX, an unprivileged local user may obtain read and write access
to arbitrary files. Modifying certain files may allow for code
execution
after a host reboot.

  Unprivileged vCenter Server users or groups that are assigned the

predefined
role "Virtual Machine Power User" or "Resource Pool Administrator"
have the
privilege "Add Existing Disk".

  The issue cannot be exploited through VMware vCloud Director.

  Workaround

  A workaround is provided in VMware Knowledge Base article 2066856. 

  Mitigation

  In a default vCenter Server installation no unprivileged users or

groups
are assigned the predefined role "Virtual Machine Power User" or
"Resource
Pool Administrator".

  Restrict the number of vCenter Server users that have the privilege
  “Add Existing Disk".

  VMware would like to thank Shanon Olsson for reporting this issue to
  us through JPCERT.

  The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has
  assigned the name CVE-2013-5973 to this issue.


  Column 4 of the following table lists the action required to
  remediate the vulnerability in each release, if a solution is
  available.

  VMware		Product	Running	Replace with/
  Product		Version	on	Apply Patch *
  =============	=======	=======	=================
  ESXi		5.5	ESXi	ESXi550-201312101-SG
  ESXi		5.1	ESXi	ESXi510-201310101-SG
  ESXi		5.0	ESXi	ESXi500-201310101-SG
  ESXi		4.1	ESXi	ESXi410-201312401-SG
  ESXi		4.0	ESXi	ESXi400-201310401-SG
	
  ESX		4.1	ESX	ESX410-201312401-SG
  ESX		4.0	ESX	ESX400-201310401-SG

  * Known Issues

  Deploying these patches does not remediate the issue if the ESXi or 
  ESX file /etc/vmware/configrules has been modified manually

(modifying
this file is uncommon). Customers who have modified this file should
apply the workaround after installing the patch.

  After deploying the patches, Virtual Machines that have their names
  ending in "-flat", "-rdm" or "-rdmp" will no longer power on. See the
  VMware Knowledge Base article listed under "Workaround" for a

solution.

4. Solution

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

   ESXi and ESX

   https://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/download.portal

   ESXi 5.5

   File: ESXi550-201312001.zip
   md5sum: c2edc6fbe983709a5a643fe5e03c055b
   sha1sum: df55f419056b2dab25e28ca87ccdd8a099849a40
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2063795
   ESXi550-201312001 contains ESXi550-201312101-SG

   ESXi 5.1

   File: ESXi510-201310001.zip
   md5sum: 00b6a97b3042dc45da52e20b67666387
   sha1sum: 8b0e2e832d0c603991718da17e1f73de4f0969cc
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2053402
   ESXi510-201310001 contains ESXi510-201310101-SG

   ESXi 5.0

   File: update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update03.zip
   md5sum: 7e6185fa3238a4895613b39e57a2a94b
   sha1sum: aa3929d2c8183aeaecdc238cbbf4d270bd70dd07
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2055559
   update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update03 contains ESXi500-201310101-SG

   ESXi 4.1

   File: ESXi410-201312001.zip
   md5sum: f85c0c449513b88b22f19a5f11966d5e
   sha1sum: cfde5abbef77976b76d55813ae1e7bbbbca25b7b
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2061210
   ESXi410-201312001 contains ESXi410-201312401-SG

   ESXi 4.0

   File: ESX400-201310001.zip
   md5sum: 9d47cf815ed142a17f97002379b5e386
   sha1sum: 91082ec4263333f9b996883cb53dbe9aab7a88b5
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2059495
   ESX400-201310001 contains ESXi400-201310401-SG

   ESX 4.1

   File: ESX410-201312001.zip
   md5sum: c35763a84db169dd0285442d4129cc18
   sha1sum: ee8e1b8d2d383422ff0dde04749c5d89e77d8e40
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2061209
   ESX410-201312001 contains ESX410-201312401-SG

   ESX 4.0

   File: ESX400-201310001.zip
   md5sum: 9d47cf815ed142a17f97002379b5e386
   sha1sum: 91082ec4263333f9b996883cb53dbe9aab7a88b5
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2059495
   ESX400-201310001 contains ESX400-201310401-SG

5. References

   VMware Knowledge Base article KB2066856
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2066856

   http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2013-5973

6. Change log

   2013-12-22 VMSA-2013-0016
   Initial security advisory in conjunction with the release of
   ESXi 5.5 patches on 2013-12-22

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 2013 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

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