Use-after-free in VMware ESXi - CVE-2021-22040

Vulnerability identifier: #VU60616

CSH Severity: Medium

CVSS v4: 8.6 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-22040

CWE-ID: CWE-416

Exploitation vector: Remote access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a remote user to compromise the affected system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error in the XHCI USB controller. A remote user with administrative permissions on the guest OS can trigger a use-after-free error and execute arbitrary code as the virtual machine's VMX process running on the host.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may allow an attacker to compromise the hypervisor.

VMware ESXi
VMware Fusion
VMware Workstation
Cloud Foundation
Dell Enterprise Hybrid Cloud
Dell EMC VxRail Appliance

Install updates from vendor's website.

VMware ESXi - addressed in versions ESXi650-202202401-SG, ESXi670-202111101-SG, ESXi70U1e-19324898, ESXi70U2e-19290878, ESXi70U3c-19193900
VMware Fusion - update to 12.2.1
VMware Workstation - update to 16.2.1
Cloud Foundation - addressed in versions 3.11, 4.4
Dell Enterprise Hybrid Cloud - update to 4.1.2
Dell EMC VxRail Appliance - update to 4.5.471

• https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0004.html

• Multiple vulnerabilities in VMWare ESXi
• Multiple vulnerabilities in VMWare Workstation and Fusion
• Multiple vulnerabilities in VMWare Cloud Foundation (ESXi)
• Multiple vulnerabilities in Dell EMC Enterprise Hybrid Cloud
• Multiple vulnerabilities in Dell EMC VxRail