CVE-2021-22045 Memory corruption in VMware ESXi, VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion

High 7.8 Published 4 Jan 2022 Updated 3 Aug 2024

A heap overflow in CD-ROM emulation allows attackers with VM access to execute code on the hypervisor, requiring immediate patching.

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-2021-22045?

CVE-2021-22045 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Vmware Cloud Foundation, published on 4 Jan 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

VMware ESXi (7.0, 6.7 before ESXi670-202111101-SG and 6.5 before ESXi650-202110101-SG), VMware Workstation (16.2.0) and VMware Fusion (12.2.0) contains a heap-overflow vulnerability in CD-ROM device emulation. A malicious actor with access to a virtual machine with CD-ROM device emulation may be able to exploit this vulnerability in conjunction with other issues to execute code on the hypervisor from a virtual machine.

Weakness: CWE-787

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-22045?

It affects 4 products.

Products include Vmware Cloud Foundation, Vmware Esxi, Vmware Fusion, Vmware Workstation.

How do I fix CVE-2021-22045?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-22045 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2021-22045 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22045 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Vmware Cloud Foundation vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-vfgr-j794-9c26.