CVE-2018-6966 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion versions before specified patches contain an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the shader translator, potentially leading to information disclosure or VM crashes.

Understanding CVE-2018-6966

This CVE involves an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion products.

What is CVE-2018-6966?

CVE-2018-6966 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the shader translator component of VMware ESXi (6.7 before ESXi670-201806401-BG), Workstation (14.x before 14.1.2), and Fusion (10.x before 10.1.2).

The Impact of CVE-2018-6966

Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers with normal user privileges to crash their virtual machines or disclose sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6966

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the shader translator of the affected VMware products, potentially leading to out-of-bounds read scenarios.

Affected Systems and Versions

VMware ESXi (6.7 before ESXi670-201806401-BG)
Workstation (14.x before 14.1.2)
Fusion (10.x before 10.1.2)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to trigger out-of-bounds reads, resulting in information exposure or virtual machine crashes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-6966 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary security patches provided by VMware.
Monitor VMware's security advisories for updates and recommendations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update VMware products to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

VMware has released patches to address this vulnerability. Ensure timely installation of these patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.