[RITL] FW: Outreach: Critical RCE Vulnerability Found in VMware vCenter Server

[Chuck Forsyth]

Dear RITL,

Forwarding this for awareness as some of our groups use VMware.

Regards,
Chuck Forsyth

From: University of California Information Technology Policy & Security <UCITPS-L at LISTSERV.UCOP.EDU> On Behalf Of Robert Smith
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2021 8:12 AM
To: UCITPS-L at LISTSERV.UCOP.EDU
Subject: Outreach: Critical RCE Vulnerability Found in VMware vCenter Server

Hello ITPS and SIRC,

Good morning.

There are about 6K instances internet facing according to Shodan:


Critical RCE Vulnerability Found in VMware vCenter Server — Patch Now!

VMware has rolled out patches to address a critical security vulnerability in vCenter Server that could be leveraged by an adversary to execute arbitrary code on the server.

Tracked as CVE-2021-21985 (CVSS score 9.8), the issue stems from a lack of input validation in the Virtual SAN (vSAN) Health Check plug-in, which is enabled by default in the vCenter Server. "A malicious actor with network access to port 443 may exploit this issue to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system that hosts vCenter Server," VMware said in its advisory.

While VMware is strongly recommending customers to apply the "emergency change," the company has published a workaround to set the plug-ins as incompatible. "Disablement of these plug-ins will result in a loss of management and monitoring capabilities provided by the plug-ins," the company noted.

"Organizations who have placed their vCenter Servers on networks that are directly accessible from the Internet [...] should audit their systems for compromise," VMware added. "They should also take steps to implement more perimeter security controls (firewalls, ACLs, etc.) on the management interfaces of their infrastructure."

Link: https://thehackernews.com/2021/05/critical-rce-vulnerability-found-in.html

TLP: WHITE
MS-ISAC CYBERSECURITY ADVISORY

MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER:
2021-072

DATE(S) ISSUED:
05/26/2021

SUBJECT:

Multiple Vulnerabilities in VMware vCenter Server Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

OVERVIEW:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in VMware vCenter Server, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution. VMware vCenter Server is a centralized management utility for VMware, and is used to manage virtual machines, multiple ESXi hosts, and all dependent components from a single centralized location. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute remote code in context of the user running the application.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE:
There are currently no reports of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild. [ed. Note VMWare is stating above that there is some risk of compromise …]

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
•             VMware vCenter Server versions 6.5, 6.7, 7.0

RISK:
Government:

·         Large and medium government entities: High

·         Small government: Medium
Businesses:

·         Large and medium business entities: High

·         Small business entities: Medium

·         Home users: Low

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in VMware vCenter Server, which could result in remote code execution. Details of these vulnerabilities are as follows:

•             A remote code execution vulnerability in vCenter Server which enables a malicious actor to execute commands with unrestricted privileges. (CVE-2021-21985)
•             An authentication mechanism issue in vCenter Server Plug-ins which enable a malicious actor to perform unauthorized actions. (CVE-2021-21086)

Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights. A pre-requisite of exploiting these vulnerabilities is that the malicious actor must have network access over port 443 to exploit these vulnerabilities. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in context of the user running the application.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the following actions be taken:
•             Apply appropriate updates provided by VMware to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing.
•             Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
•             Remind users not to visit un-trusted websites or follow links provided by unknown or un-trusted sources.
•             Inform and educate users regarding the threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from un-trusted sources.
•             Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.

REFERENCES:
VMware:
https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0010.html

CVE:
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-21985
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-21986

Enjoy a jocund day,
Robert Smith, CISSP, PMP
Systemwide IT Policy Director/Security Director
Information Technology Services
University of California Office of the President
(510) 587-6244 (o)
(510) 541-8103 (m)
robert.smith at ucop.edu<mailto:robert.smith at ucop.edu>

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