12,194guides5,442members
8 Octporterneuman.mx: PowerShell and JavaScript files tied to the AveMaria remote access trojan, and what to do8 Octdonutclientsmods.xyz: fake DonutSMP Minecraft mods tagged SilentNet, and what to do if you ran one8 Octsqpengg.com: a server handing out crypted PowerShell scripts, and what to do if one ran on your PC8 Octdonutsmpcheats.org: fake Minecraft cheat mods with the SilentNet stealer, and what to do if you installed one8 Octmaciejbi.hosting24.pl: a hosting subdomain that served Remcos scripts and a stego picture, and what to do if your PC fetched them8 Oct87130921-60-20220830152356.webstarterz.com: an open folder serving Formbook and XWorm PowerShell scripts, and what to do if one ran8 Octficus.in: picture files hiding the Remcos remote access trojan, and what to do if a script fetched them8 OctOpenDrive virus: why web.opendrive.com shows up in malware alerts, and what to do if a file from it installed Remcos

Actively exploited vulnerability

VMware vCenter Server: privilege escalation flaw under attack

CVE-2024-38813 · VMware vCenter Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Business software9.8 critical

What is affected

VMware vCenter Server is mostly run by companies, schools and public bodies, not on home computers. You are unlikely to have it yourself, but organisations that hold your data may. Breaches that start with flaws like this one are how personal data ends up leaked.

VMware vCenter contains an improper check for dropped privileges vulnerability. This vulnerability could allow an attacker with network access to the vCenter Server to escalate privileges to root by sending a specially crafted packet.

CISA's description

What an attacker can do

This is a privilege escalation flaw. It lets an attacker turn limited access into full administrator control. Attackers pair it with another flaw or a malicious file: once anything of theirs runs on the device, this bug lets it take over completely.

How it is reached
Over the internet or network
Access the attacker needs
No account needed
Does the victim have to do something?
No, works without the victim doing anything

What to do

  1. At home: nothing to install. Keep your own devices updated and use a different password for every service, so that a breach at one organisation does not open your other accounts.
  2. If you administer VMware vCenter Server at work: apply the vendor's fix or mitigation now and review logs for signs of compromise, because the flaw was being exploited before it was listed.
  3. If the product is past its support date and no fix exists, take it off the internet or retire it.

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Action required by CISA for US federal agencies

Vendor advisories and fixes

  • support.broadcom.comsupport.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvis

How urgent is it

CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on November 20, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by December 11, 2024, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.

The EPSS model estimates a 17% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 97% of all scored vulnerabilities.

Its CVSS severity score is 9.8 out of 10 (critical), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.

Technical description

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.

NIST National Vulnerability Database
5,442 members already hereReading, writing, commenting and voting. 0 verified · 167 joined this year
All membersJoin