Broadcom has fixed a serious VMware vCenter Server vulnerability that allows attackers to execute remote code on unpatched servers through network packets.
vCenter Server is the main management hub for VMware’s vSphere suite, enabling administrators to oversee and monitor virtualized infrastructure.
The vulnerability (CVE-2024-38812) identified by TZL security researchers at the 2024 Matrix Cup hacking contest is due to a heap overflow in vCenter’s DCE/RPC protocol. It also impacts VMware products like vSphere and Cloud Foundation.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit it remotely in low-complexity attacks that don’t require user interaction “by sending a specially crafted network packet potentially leading to remote code execution.”
Security patches for this vulnerability are now available via the regular vCenter Server update methods.
“To ensure full protection for yourself and your organization, install one of the update versions listed in the VMware Security Advisory,” the company said.
“While other mitigations may be available depending on your organization’s security posture, defense-in-depth strategies, and firewall configurations, each organization must evaluate the adequacy of these protections independently.”
Broadcom states that there is no evidence of the CVE-2023-34048 RCE bug being exploited in attacks.
Admins unable to apply today’s security updates should tightly control access to vSphere management components and interfaces, as there’s no official workaround for this vulnerability yet.
Today, the company fixed a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2024-38813) that allows attackers to gain root access on vulnerable servers using a specially crafted network packet.
In June, a remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2024-37079) in vCenter Server was fixed. It could be exploited using specially crafted packets.
In January, Broadcom revealed that a Chinese hacking group has been exploiting a critical vCenter Server vulnerability (CVE-2023-34048) as a zero-day since late 2021.