VMware has released security updates to address multiple vulnerabilities in VMware Cloud Foundation. A remote attacker could exploit one of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.
Multiple vulnerabilities were privately reported to VMware. Updates are available to address this vulnerability in affected VMware products.
- VMware Cloud Foundation update addresses a remote code execution vulnerability via XStream (CVE-2021-39144)
Description
VMware Cloud Foundation contains a remote code execution vulnerability via XStream open source library. VMware has evaluated the severity of this issue to be in the Critical severity range with a maximum CVSSv3 base score of 9.8.
Known Attack Vectors
Due to an unauthenticated endpoint that leverages XStream for input serialization in VMware Cloud Foundation (NSX-V), a malicious actor can get remote code execution in the context of ‘root’ on the appliance.
Resolution
To remediate CVE-2021-39144 apply the patches listed in the ‘Fixed Version’ column of the ‘Response Matrix’ below.
Workarounds
None.
Additional Documentation
A supplemental FAQ was created for additional clarification. Please see: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/89932
Notes
- While VMware does not mention end-of-life products on VMware Security Advisories, due to the critical severity of NSX-V the product team has made a patch available.
- VMware has confirmed that exploit code leveraging CVE-2021-39144 against impacted products has been published.
Acknowledgements
VMware would like to thank Sina Kheirkhah and Steven Seeley of Source Incite for reporting these issues to us.
Response Matrix
| Product | Version | Running On | CVE Identifier | CVSSv3 | Severity | Fixed Version | Workarounds | Additional Documentation |
| VMware Cloud Foundation | 4.x | Any | CVE-2021-39144 | N/A | N/A | Unaffected | N/A | N/A |
| VMware Cloud Foundation (NSX-V) | 3.11 | Any | CVE-2021-39144 | 9.8 | Critical | KB 89809 | None | FAQ |
2. VMware Cloud Foundation update addresses an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability (CVE-2022-31678)
Description
VMware Cloud Foundation contains an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability. VMware has evaluated the severity of this issue to be in the Moderate severity range with a maximum CVSSv3 base score of 5.3.
Known Attack Vectors
An unauthenticated user may exploit this issue leading to a denial-of-service condition or unintended information disclosure.
Resolution
To remediate CVE-2022-31678 apply the patches listed in the ‘Fixed Version’ column of the ‘Response Matrix’ below.
Workarounds
None
Acknowledgements
VMware would like to thank Sina Kheirkhah and Steven Seeley of Source Incite for reporting these issues to us.
Response Matrix
| Product | Version | Running On | CVE Identifier | CVSSv3 | Severity | Fixed Version | Workarounds | Additional Documentation |
| VMware Cloud Foundation | 4.x | Any | CVE-2022-31678 | N/A | N/A | Unaffected | N/A | N/A |
| VMware Cloud Foundation (NSX-V) | 3.11 | Any | CVE-2022-31678 | 5.3 | Moderate | KB 89809 | None | None. |
3. Fixed Version(s) and Release Notes:
VMware vCloud Foundation 3.11
Downloads and Documentation:
Mitre CVE Dictionary Links:
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-39144
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-31678
FIRST CVSSv3 Calculator:
CVE-2021-39144: https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.1#CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVE-2022-31678: https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.1#CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
4. Change Log
2022-10-25 VMSA-2022-0027
Initial security advisory.
2022-10-27 VMSA-2022-0027.1
Updated advisory with information that VMware has confirmed exploit code leveraging CVE-2021-39144 against VCF (NSX-V) has been published.
Source:
https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0027.html