UNKNOWN CVSS 6.8
Published: 2013-10-21

CVE-2013-5971

vmware vcenter_server Security Advisory (CVE-2013-5971)
↗ Official NIST NVD Record
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CyberVault Technical Summary

Analyst Synthesis

Technical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2013-5971 impacting vmware vcenter_server. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 6.8 (UNKNOWN).

Original NVD Description

Source: NIST NVD
Session fixation vulnerability in the vSphere Web Client Server in VMware vCenter Server 5.0 before Update 3 allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions and gain privileges via unspecified vectors.

📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network (AV:N)
Exploitable remotely across internet boundaries

🎯 Affected Versions Matrix

Affected Product vmware / vcenter_server
Affected Versions *
Weakness Enumeration CWE-264

Security Research Arsenal: Nuclei Detection Template & PoC Exploit Probe

High-Intent Research Tool

Ready-to-use security scanner signatures, active verification probe skeletons, and remediation playbooks for CVE-2013-5971 impacting vmware vcenter_server.

⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML) cve-2013-5971.yaml
id: cve-2013-5971

info:
  name: vmware vcenter_server - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
  author: cybervault-security-intel
  severity: unknown
  description: |
    Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2013-5971 affecting vmware vcenter_server.
    Evaluation: Session fixation vulnerability in the vSphere Web Client Server in VMware vCenter Server 5.0 before Update 3 allows remote attackers to hijack web ses...
  reference:
    - https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2013-5971
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
    cvss-score: 6.8
    cve-id: CVE-2013-5971
    cwe-id: CWE-264
  tags: cve,cve-2013-5971,vmware,vcenter_server,unknown

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{BaseURL}/"
      - "{BaseURL}/api/"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200
      - type: word
        words:
          - "vcenter_server"
        part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3) poc_cve-2013-5971.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2013-5971
# Target: vmware vcenter_server | CVSS: 6.8 (UNKNOWN)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only

import requests
import sys

def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
    print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2013-5971 (vmware vcenter_server)...")
    headers = {
        "User-Agent": "CyberVault-Audit-Scanner/2.0",
        "Accept": "*/*"
    }
    try:
        r = requests.get(f"{target_url.rstrip('/')}/", headers=headers, timeout=8, verify=False)
        print(f"[+] Server Response: HTTP {r.status_code} | Server Banner: {r.headers.get('Server', 'Unknown')}")
        if r.status_code < 500:
            print(f"[!] Target reachable. Verify version against vmware vcenter_server scope (*).")
        return True
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"[-] Connection Error: {e}")
        return False

if __name__ == '__main__':
    url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "http://localhost:8080"
    verify_vulnerability(url)
🛡️ Quick Patch & Remediation Script (Bash) patch_cve-2013-5971.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2013-5971
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install vcenter_server 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade vcenter_server 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update vcenter_server

# 2. Inspect installed package versions for vulnerable scope:
dpkg -l | grep -i vcenter_server 2>/dev/null || rpm -qa | grep -i vcenter_server

# 3. Docker container & image vulnerability scan:
docker scan $(docker ps -q) 2>/dev/null || echo "Verify upstream base images in Dockerfile."

🛡️ Remediation & Security Action

  • Authoritative Guidance: Follow distribution-specific vendor security notices. Advisory status and package patches vary by distribution release.
  • Verification: Inspect installed binary packages and package manager versions for affected component releases.
  • Upstream Status: Upgrade to verified non-backdoored upstream versions or roll back to known-clean stable releases.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Follow vendor-specific advisories for your operating system. CyberVault does not fabricate unsupported remediation scripts.

🔗 Verified Technical References

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide

How do I fix CVE-2013-5971 in vmware vcenter_server?

Review vendor-specific security notices and update vmware vcenter_server packages to the latest patched release immediately. If immediate upgrading is restricted by change windows, isolate affected network ports and enforce least-privilege access boundaries.

Is there an active exploit or public PoC for CVE-2013-5971?

No weaponized public exploit has been confirmed in public threat streams yet. Continuous surveillance is active across GitHub and security feeds.

What is the CVSS 3.1 severity rating and impact for CVE-2013-5971?

CVE-2013-5971 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 6.8 (UNKNOWN). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.

Risk Snapshot
6.8
UNKNOWN SEVERITY
CVE ID CVE-2013-5971
Weakness CWE-264
Vendor vmware
Product vcenter_server
Published 2013-10-21
Vector AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P