CVE-2016-2077
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in VMware Workstation and Player on Windows allows local users on the host operating system to escalate their privileges to gain full administrative control over the host. The flaw involves incorrect access to an executable file, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Only Windows installations of affected VMware products are impacted.
💻 Affected Systems
- VMware Workstation
- VMware Player
📦 What is this software?
Player by Vmware
Player by Vmware
Player by Vmware
Player by Vmware
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with local access to the Windows host can gain full administrative control over the entire host operating system, potentially compromising all data, applications, and connected systems.
Likely Case
A malicious local user or malware with initial foothold on the host can escalate privileges to install persistent backdoors, steal credentials, or disable security controls.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls limiting local user accounts and regular patching, the attack surface is significantly reduced, though the vulnerability remains present in unpatched systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access to the Windows host but no authentication beyond having a local user account. The unspecified vectors suggest multiple potential exploitation methods.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: VMware Workstation 11.1.3 or later, VMware Player 7.1.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2016-0005.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download the latest version from VMware's official website. 2. Run the installer with administrative privileges. 3. Follow the installation wizard. 4. Restart the system when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Local User Access
windowsLimit the number of local user accounts and ensure they have minimal necessary privileges to reduce attack surface.
Disable Unnecessary Services
windowsDisable VMware services when not in use to reduce the window of opportunity for exploitation.
sc config "VMware Authorization Service" start= disabled
sc config "VMware NAT Service" start= disabled
sc config "VMware DHCP Service" start= disabled
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected systems from critical network segments and sensitive data.
- Implement strict monitoring of local user activity and privilege escalation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check VMware version via Help > About in the application interface or examine installed programs in Control Panel.Check Version:
wmic product where "name like 'VMware%'" get name, versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 11.1.3 or later for Workstation, or 7.1.3 or later for Player, through the application's About dialog.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected privilege escalation events in Windows Security logs (Event ID 4672, 4688)
- Suspicious process creation from VMware executables with elevated privileges
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from VMware processes to external systems
SIEM Query:
source="windows_security" (event_id=4672 OR event_id=4688) AND process_name="*vmware*" AND user_name!="SYSTEM"