VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux) - Nessus

High Plugin ID: 92946

This page contains detailed information about the VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux) Nessus plugin including available exploits and PoCs found on GitHub, in Metasploit or Exploit-DB for verifying of this vulnerability.

Table Of Contents

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Plugin Overview
Vulnerability Information

Synopsis
Description
Solution

Public Exploits
Risk Information
Plugin Source
How to Run
References
Version

Plugin Overview

ID: 92946
Name: VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux)
Filename: vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl
Vulnerability Published: 2016-08-04
This Plugin Published: 2016-08-12
Last Modification Time: 2020-09-21
Plugin Version: 1.9
Plugin Type: local
Plugin Family: General
Dependencies: vmware_workstation_linux_installed.nbin
Required KB Items [?]: Host/VMware Workstation/Version
Excluded KB Items: SMB/Registry/Enumerated

Vulnerability Information

Severity: High
Vulnerability Published: 2016-08-04
Patch Published: 2016-08-04
CVE [?]: CVE-2016-5330
CPE [?]: cpe:/a:vmware:workstation

Synopsis

A virtualization application installed on the remote host is affected by an arbitrary code execution vulnerability.

Description

The version of VMware Workstation installed on the remote host is 12.1.x prior to 12.1.1. It is, therefore, affected by an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the Shared Folders (HGFS) feature due to improper loading of Dynamic-link library (DLL) files from insecure paths, including the current working directory, which may not be under user control. A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability, by placing a malicious DLL in the path or by convincing a user into opening a file on a network share, to inject and execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user.

Solution

Upgrade to VMware Workstation 12.1.1 or later.

Note that VMware Tools on Windows-based guests that use the Shared Folders (HGFS) feature must also be updated to completely mitigate the vulnerability.

Public Exploits

Target Network Port(s): N/A
Target Asset(s): N/A
Exploit Available: True (Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB)
Exploit Ease: Exploits are available

Here's the list of publicly known exploits and PoCs for verifying the VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux) vulnerability:

Metasploit: exploit/windows/misc/vmhgfs_webdav_dll_sideload
[DLL Side Loading Vulnerability in VMware Host Guest Client Redirector]
Exploit-DB: exploits/windows/local/41711.rb
[EDB-41711: VMware Host Guest Client Redirector - DLL Side Loading (Metasploit)]

Before running any exploit against any system, make sure you are authorized by the owner of the target system(s) to perform such activity. In any other case, this would be considered as an illegal activity.

WARNING: Beware of using unverified exploits from sources such as GitHub or Exploit-DB. These exploits and PoCs could contain malware. For more information, see how to use exploits safely.

Risk Information

CVSS Score Source [?]: CVE-2016-5330
CVSS V2 Vector: AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P/E:F/RL:OF/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	4.4 (Medium)
Impact Subscore:	6.4
Exploitability Subscore:	3.4
CVSS Temporal Score:	3.6 (Low)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	3.6 (Low)

CVSS V3 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	7.8 (High)
Impact Subscore:	5.9
Exploitability Subscore:	1.8
CVSS Temporal Score:	7.2 (High)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	7.2 (High)

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Plugin Source

#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(92946);
  script_version("1.9");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/09/21");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-5330");
  script_bugtraq_id(92323);
  script_xref(name:"VMSA", value:"2016-0010");

  script_name(english:"VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks VMware Workstation version.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A virtualization application installed on the remote host is affected
by an arbitrary code execution vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of VMware Workstation installed on the remote host is
12.1.x prior to 12.1.1. It is, therefore, affected by an arbitrary
code execution vulnerability in the Shared Folders (HGFS) feature due
to improper loading of Dynamic-link library (DLL) files from insecure
paths, including the current working directory, which may not be under
user control. A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability, by
placing a malicious DLL in the path or by convincing a user into
opening a file on a network share, to inject and execute arbitrary
code in the context of the current user.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2016-0010.html");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to VMware Workstation 12.1.1 or later.

Note that VMware Tools on Windows-based guests that use the Shared
Folders (HGFS) feature must also be updated to completely mitigate the
vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-5330");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"metasploit_name", value:'DLL Side Loading Vulnerability in VMware Host Guest Client Redirector');
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_metasploit", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/08/04");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/08/04");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/08/12");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:vmware:workstation");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"General");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("vmware_workstation_linux_installed.nbin");
  script_require_keys("Host/VMware Workstation/Version");
  script_exclude_keys("SMB/Registry/Enumerated");

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");

if (get_kb_item("SMB/Registry/Enumerated")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Linux", "Windows");

version = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/VMware Workstation/Version");

fix = '';
if (version =~ "^12\.1\.") fix = '12.1.1';

if (!empty(fix) && ver_compare(ver:version, fix:fix, strict:FALSE) < 0)
{
  report +=
    '\n  Installed version : ' + version +
    '\n  Fixed version     : ' + fix +
    '\n';
  security_report_v4(port:0, extra:report, severity:SECURITY_WARNING);
}
else audit(AUDIT_INST_VER_NOT_VULN, "VMware Workstation", version);

The latest version of this script can be found in these locations depending on your platform:

Linux / Unix:
/opt/nessus/lib/nessus/plugins/vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl
Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Tenable\Nessus\nessus\plugins\vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl
Mac OS X:
/Library/Nessus/run/lib/nessus/plugins/vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl

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How to Run

Here is how to run the VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux) as a standalone plugin via the Nessus web user interface (https://localhost:8834/):

Click to start a New Scan.
Select Advanced Scan.
Navigate to the Plugins tab.
On the top right corner click to Disable All plugins.
On the left side table select General plugin family.
On the right side table select VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux) plugin ID 92946.
Specify the target on the Settings tab and click to Save the scan.
Run the scan.

Here are a few examples of how to run the plugin in the command line. Note that the examples below demonstrate the usage on the Linux / Unix platform.

Basic usage:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with audit trail message on the console:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -a vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with trace script execution written to the console (useful for debugging):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -T - vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with using a state file for the target and updating it (useful for running multiple plugins on the target):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -K /tmp/state vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

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References

BID | SecurityFocus Bugtraq ID:

92323

VMSA | VMware Security Advisory:

2016-0010

See also:

Similar and related Nessus plugins:

92943 - VMware Fusion 8.1.x < 8.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010)
92944 - VMware Player 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux)
92945 - VMware Player 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010)
92949 - ESXi 5.0 / 5.1 / 5.5 / 6.0 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2016-0010) (remote check)
92947 - VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010)
73671 - VMware Player 6.x < 6.0.2 OpenSSL Library Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2014-0004) (Linux) (Heartbleed)
76453 - VMware Player < 5.0.4 / 6.0.3 OpenSSL Library Multiple Vulnerabilities (Linux)
97989 - VMware Player 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005) (Linux)
111975 - VMware Player 14.x < 14.1.3 Out-of-Bounds Write (VMSA-2018-022) (Linux)
73673 - VMware Workstation 10.x < 10.0.2 OpenSSL Library Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2014-0004) (Linux) (Heartbleed)
76455 - VMware Workstation < 9.0.4 / 10.0.3 OpenSSL Library Multiple Vulnerabilities (Linux)
97940 - VMware Workstation 12.x < 12.5.4 Drag-and-Drop Feature Guest-to-Host Code Execution (VMSA-2017-0005) (Linux)
99104 - VMware Workstation 12.x < 12.5.5 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2017-0006) (Linux)
100417 - VMware Workstation 12.x < 12.5.6 Insecure Library Loading Privilege Escalation (VMSA-2017-0009) (Linux)
111757 - VMware Workstation 14.x < 14.1.3 Speculative Execution Side Channel Vulnerability (Foreshadow) (VMSA-2018-0020) (Linux)
111976 - VMware Workstation 14.x < 14.1.3 Out-of-Bounds Write (VMSA-2018-0022) (Linux)
134626 - VMware Workstation 15.x < 15.5.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2020-0004) (Linux)
118883 - VMware Workstation 14.x < 14.1.4 / 15.x < 15.0.1 vmxnet3 Guest-to-Host Code Execution Vulnerability (VMSA-2018-0027)
149853 - VMware Workstation 16.0.x < 16.1.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2021-0009)
72178 - HP B-series SAN Network Advisor < 12.1.1 Remote Code Execution (Linux)

Version

This page has been produced using Nessus Professional 10.1.2 (#68) LINUX, Plugin set 202205072148.
Plugin file vmware_workstation_linux_vmsa_2016_0010.nasl version 1.9. For more plugins, visit the Nessus Plugin Library.

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VMware Workstation 12.1.x < 12.1.1 Shared Folders (HGFS) Guest DLL Hijacking Arbitrary Code Execution (VMSA-2016-0010) (Linux) - Nessus

Plugin Overview

Vulnerability Information

Synopsis

Description

Solution

Public Exploits

Risk Information

Plugin Source

How to Run

References

Version

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