# CVE-2017-4915: Privilege escalation in Workstation Pro/Player

> Unprivileged host users can escalate privileges to root on Linux hosts via insecure library loading in VMware Workstation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 22 May 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g6g4-xjv3-4fxg

## What is CVE-2017-4915?

CVE-2017-4915 is a high-severity vulnerability in VMware Workstation Pro/Player, published on 22 May 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

VMware Workstation Pro/Player contains an insecure library loading vulnerability via ALSA sound driver configuration files. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow unprivileged host users to escalate their privileges to root in a Linux host machine.

Weakness: CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-4915?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Vmware Workstation Player, Vmware Workstation Pro.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-4915?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-4915 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-4915 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-4915 exists.

Public exploit code:

- VMware Workstation for Linux 12.5.2 build-4638234 - ALSA Configuration Host Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- VMware Workstation ALSA Config File Local Privilege Escalation (metasploit)
- VMware Workstation/Player < 12.5.5 - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in VMware Workstation Pro/Player

- [CVE-2017-4898](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-4898/): Privilege escalation in Workstation Pro/Player (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-7081](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7081/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-7082](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7082/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-7083](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7083/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-7084](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7084/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-4915 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-4915 is a high-severity vulnerability in VMware Workstation Pro/Player, published on 22 May 2017. 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-2017-4915 exists.

Affected product: VMware Workstation Pro/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-2017-4915/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-4915/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-4915
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-4915
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-4915

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-4915/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.