VMware Virtual Infrastructure Client Password Disclosure Weakness

Secunia Advisory:
SA34585

Release Date:
2009-04-06

Critical:

Not critical

Impact:
Exposure of sensitive information

Where:
Local system

Solution Status:
Vendor Patch

Description:
A weakness has been reported in VMware Virtual Infrastructure Client, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to disclose sensitive information.
The weakness is caused due to the application improperly storing passwords in memory. This can be exploited to potentially disclose the VirtualCenter Server password by reading the memory of the client process.

Solution:
Update VirtualCenter, ESX, or ESXi to a fixed version, and install the included client.
VMware VirtualCenter:
Update to version 2.5 Update 4.
ESXi 3.5:
Apply patch ESXe350-200903201-O-UG (also included in ESXi 3.5 Update 4).
ESX 3.5:
Apply patch ESX350-200903201-UG (also included in ESX 3.5 Update 4).
Provided and/or discovered by:
The vendor credits Craig Marshall.
Original Advisory:
VMSA-2009-0005:
http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2009/000054.html