# CVE-2019-5524: Memory corruption in VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion

> An out-of-bounds write in the e1000 virtual network adapter allows a guest to execute arbitrary code on the host system.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Apr 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-88f2-66g2-2qpg

## What is CVE-2019-5524?

CVE-2019-5524 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Vmware Fusion, published on 2 Apr 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

VMware Workstation (14.x before 14.1.6) and Fusion (10.x before 10.1.6) contain an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the e1000 virtual network adapter. This issue may allow a guest to execute code on the host.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-5524?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Vmware Fusion, Vmware Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-5524?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-5524 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-5524 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-5524 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2019-5524 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-5524 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Vmware Fusion, published on 2 Apr 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-5524 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2019-5524/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5524/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-5524
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5524
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-5524

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5524/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.