VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-37085

7.2HIGH

Key Information

Vendor: VMware
Status: Vmware Esxi; Vmware Cloud Foundation
Vendor: CVE Published:; 25 June 2024

Badges

🔥 No. 1 Trending😄 Trended👾 Exploit Exists🔴 Public PoC📰 News Worthy

Summary

The VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability, tracked with CVE-2024-37085, allows malicious actors with sufficient Active Directory permissions to gain full access to ESXi hypervisors by re-creating the configured AD group 'ESXi Admins' after it was deleted from AD. Exploitation has been observed in the wild and has been followed by the deployment of ransomware, specifically Akira and Black Basta. The vulnerability is being actively exploited by several ransomware groups. Ransomware operators have been observed leveraging this vulnerability to deploy file-encrypting malware, gaining elevated permissions to ESXi hypervisors, and carrying out further malicious activities. The potential impact of exploitation includes the encryption of the file system of the hypervisor, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. VMware has released patches to address the vulnerability, and organizations are advised to apply the updates promptly to mitigate the risk.

CISA Reported

CISA provides regional cyber and physical services to support security and resilience across the United States. CISA monitor the most dangerious vulnerabilities and have identifed CVE-2024-37085 as being exploited and is known by the CISA as enabling ransomware campaigns.

The CISA's recommendation is: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Affected Version(s)

VMware ESXi < 8.0

VMware ESXi = 7.0

VMware Cloud Foundation = 5.x

Exploit Proof of Concept (PoC)

PoC code is written by security researchers to demonstrate the vulnerability can be exploited. PoC code is also a key component for weaponization which could lead to ransomware.

CVE-2024-37085-RCE-POC
Created by Florian-Hoth