# CVE-2005-4459: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code via crafted FTP commands in VMware NAT components.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Dec 2005
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pqx2-mg4c-9g67

## What is CVE-2005-4459?

CVE-2005-4459 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Vmware Player, published on 21 Dec 2005. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the NAT networking components vmnat.exe and vmnet-natd in VMWare Workstation 5.5, GSX Server 3.2, ACE 1.0.1, and Player 1.0 allows remote authenticated attackers, including guests, to execute arbitrary code via crafted (1) EPRT and (2) PORT FTP commands.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2005-4459?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Vmware Ace, Vmware Gsx Server, Vmware Player, Vmware Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2005-4459?

No fix has been published for CVE-2005-4459 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2005-4459 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2005-4459 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Vmware Player

- [CVE-2009-3732](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3732/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-3691](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3691/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-3692](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3692/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-3693](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3693/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-3694](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3694/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2005-4459 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2005-4459 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Vmware Player, published on 21 Dec 2005. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2005-4459 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Vmware Player. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4459/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4459/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-4459
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-4459
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2005-4459

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4459/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.