CVE-2020-3960 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2020-3960 affecting VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion versions, allowing unauthorized access to privileged information. Find mitigation steps and patching recommendations.
VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion versions are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in NVMe functionality, potentially allowing unauthorized access to privileged information in physical memory.
Understanding CVE-2020-3960
This CVE identifies a security issue in VMware products that could be exploited by a local non-administrative user to gain unauthorized access.
What is CVE-2020-3960?
CVE-2020-3960 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability present in VMware ESXi (6.7 before ESXi670-202006401-SG and 6.5 before ESXi650-202005401-SG), Workstation (15.x before 15.5.5), and Fusion (11.x before 11.5.5).
The Impact of CVE-2020-3960
The vulnerability could allow a malicious actor with local non-administrative access to a virtual machine with a virtual NVMe controller to read privileged information stored in physical memory.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-3960
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in VMware products allows for an out-of-bounds read, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Affected Systems and Versions
- VMware ESXi 6.7 before ESXi670-202006401-SG and 6.5 before ESXi650-202005401-SG
- Workstation 15.x before 15.5.5
- Fusion 11.x before 11.5.5
Exploitation Mechanism
A local non-administrative user with access to a virtual machine with a virtual NVMe controller can exploit the vulnerability to read privileged information from physical memory.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3960 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the necessary security patches provided by VMware promptly.
- Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual activities on affected systems.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch VMware products to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
- Implement strong access controls and restrict non-administrative users' access to critical systems.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion are updated to versions that address the CVE-2020-3960 vulnerability.