CVE-2024-37085 VMware ESXi: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Aug 20, 2024
What to do
- Install VMware's security update for ESXi. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
- Product
- VMware ESXi
- CISA description
- VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-305)
- Confirmed exploited
- Jul 30, 2024 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Aug 20, 2024
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Answering about CVE-2024-37085 ·
Questions about CVE-2024-37085
Is CVE-2024-37085 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2024-37085 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jul 30, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2024-37085?
Install VMware's security update for ESXi. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2024-37085?
Only if you use VMware ESXi. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.