VMware Workstation: Vulnerability in NAT networking — GLSA 200601-04

VMware guest operating systems can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on the host operating system through a flaw in NAT networking.

Affected packages

Package	app-emulation/vmware-workstation on all architectures
Affected versions	< 5.5.1.19175
Unaffected versions	>= 5.5.1.19175 revision >= 4.5.3.19414 revision >= 3.2.1.2242-r10

Background

VMware Workstation is a powerful virtual machine for developers and system administrators.

Description

Tim Shelton discovered that vmnet-natd, the host module providing NAT-style networking for VMware guest operating systems, is unable to process incorrect 'EPRT' and 'PORT' FTP requests.

Impact

Malicious guest operating systems using the NAT networking feature or local VMware Workstation users could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the host system with elevated privileges.

Workaround

Disable the NAT service by following the instructions at http://www.vmware.com/support/k b, Answer ID 2002.

Resolution

All VMware Workstation users should upgrade to a fixed version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose app-emulation/vmware-workstation

References

Release date
January 07, 2006

Latest revision
May 25, 2006: 02

Severity
high

Exploitable
remote and local

Bugzilla entries

116238