CVE-2021-21999 Privilege escalation in VMware Tools for Windows, VMware Remote Console for Windows and VMware App Volumes
Local attackers can execute code with elevated privileges by placing a malicious file in an unrestricted directory within VMware Windows tools.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2021-21999?
CVE-2021-21999 is a high-severity vulnerability in VMware Tools for Windows, VMware Remote Console for Windows and VMware App Volumes, published on 23 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
VMware Tools for Windows (11.x.y prior to 11.2.6), VMware Remote Console for Windows (12.x prior to 12.0.1) , VMware App Volumes (2.x prior to 2.18.10 and 4 prior to 2103) contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker with normal access to a virtual machine may exploit this issue by placing a malicious file renamed as `openssl.cnf' in an unrestricted directory which would allow code to be executed with elevated privileges.
Weakness: CWE-427
Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-21999?
It affects 3 products.
Products include Vmware App Volumes, Vmware Remote Console, Vmware Tools.
How do I fix CVE-2021-21999?
No fix has been published for CVE-2021-21999 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2021-21999 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21999 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in VMware Tools for Windows, VMware Remote Console for Windows and VMware App Volumes
Sources
Also known as GHSA-cc95-jcm8-xmfh.