Patchfirst
CVE-2024-38813 KEV Critical · 9.8 EPSS 17.4%

VMware vCenter Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

VMware · vCenter Server

Summary

The VMware vCenter Server contains a privilege escalation flaw, which stems from improper handling of dropped privileges and execution with unnecessary privileges. An attacker with network access to the vCenter Server can send a specially crafted network packet, without needing authentication or user interaction, to escalate privileges to root.

Official description · NVD

The vCenter Server contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger this vulnerability to escalate privileges to root by sending a specially crafted network packet.

Breakdown
61.3 / 100
Exploited
Yes, in CISA KEV
Reports
0
Tactics
2/15

How an attack unfolds

Based on mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.
  1. How attackers get in

  2. What they do

First seen exploited 2 months after disclosure.

  1. Disclosedday 0
  2. First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence+2 mo
  3. Added to CISA KEVEU database agrees+2 mo

CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.

techniques

2 , grouped by in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2

Initial AccessTA0001

Exploit Public-Facing Application T1190 Medium
AI mapping from the description · how it is exploited

Network-reachable service exploited remotely

A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger this vulnerability
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Privilege EscalationTA0004

Exploitation for Privilege Escalation T1068 Medium
AI mapping from the description · primary impact

Privilege escalation to root is the direct impact

escalate privileges to root by sending a specially crafted network packet
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Detection

0 rules for this CVE · 180 general rules for its techniques

Rules for this CVE

0 that reference CVE-2024-38813 directly.

CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗

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What security researchers reported

Not named in any threat report yet

References

2 links, grouped by NVD tag
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