# CVE-2009-3281: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local users can gain host OS privileges due to incorrect file permissions in the VMware Fusion kernel extension.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2009
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5x7c-p595-fhwh

## What is CVE-2009-3281?

CVE-2009-3281 is a high-severity vulnerability in Vmware Fusion, published on 16 Oct 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The vmx86 kernel extension in VMware Fusion before 2.0.6 build 196839 does not use correct file permissions, which allows host OS users to gain privileges on the host OS via unspecified vectors.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-3281?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vmware Fusion.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-3281?

No fix has been published for CVE-2009-3281 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2009-3281 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-3281 exists.

Public exploit code:

- VMware Fusion 2.0.5 - vmx86 kext Kernel Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Vmware Fusion

- [CVE-2020-3950](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3950/): VMware Multiple Products Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-4901](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-4901/): Memory corruption in Fusion Pro / Fusion (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2024-22267](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22267/): Use after free in VMware Fusion (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2019-5541](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5541/): Memory corruption in Workstation and Fusion (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2024-38811](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38811/): Code-execution vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-3281 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-3281 is a high-severity vulnerability in Vmware Fusion, published on 16 Oct 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-3281 exists.

Affected product: Vmware Fusion. 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-2009-3281/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3281/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-3281
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3281
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-3281

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3281/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.