CRITICAL CVSS 9.9
Published: 2017-06-08

CVE-2017-4901

vmware fusion Security Advisory (CVE-2017-4901)
↗ Official NIST NVD Record
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CyberVault Technical Summary

Analyst Synthesis

Technical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2017-4901 impacting vmware fusion. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 9.9 (CRITICAL).

Original NVD Description

Source: NIST NVD
The drag-and-drop (DnD) function in VMware Workstation 12.x before version 12.5.4 and Fusion 8.x before version 8.5.5 has an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability. This may allow a guest to execute code on the operating system that runs Workstation or Fusion.

📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network (AV:N)
Exploitable remotely across internet boundaries
Attack Complexity
Low (AC:L)
No specialized conditions required
Privileges Required
Low (PR:L)
Standard user access required
User Interaction
None (UI:N)
Zero human interaction required
Scope
Changed (S:C)
Impacts components beyond caller authority
Confidentiality
High (C:H)
Total information disclosure
Integrity
High (I:H)
Total modification of target system
Availability
High (A:H)
Total denial of service or shutdown

🎯 Affected Versions Matrix

Affected Product vmware / fusion
Affected Versions 8.0.0
Weakness Enumeration CWE-119

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-2017-4901 impacting vmware fusion.

⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML) cve-2017-4901.yaml
id: cve-2017-4901

info:
  name: vmware fusion - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
  author: cybervault-security-intel
  severity: critical
  description: |
    Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2017-4901 affecting vmware fusion.
    Evaluation: The drag-and-drop (DnD) function in VMware Workstation 12.x before version 12.5.4 and Fusion 8.x before version 8.5.5 has an out-of-bounds memory acce...
  reference:
    - https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2017-4901
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 9.9
    cve-id: CVE-2017-4901
    cwe-id: CWE-119
  tags: cve,cve-2017-4901,vmware,fusion,critical

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{BaseURL}/"
      - "{BaseURL}/api/"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200
      - type: word
        words:
          - "fusion"
        part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3) poc_cve-2017-4901.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2017-4901
# Target: vmware fusion | CVSS: 9.9 (CRITICAL)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only

import requests
import sys

def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
    print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2017-4901 (vmware fusion)...")
    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 fusion scope (8.0.0).")
        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-2017-4901.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2017-4901
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install fusion 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade fusion 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update fusion

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

# 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.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide

How do I fix CVE-2017-4901 in vmware fusion?

Review vendor-specific security notices and update vmware fusion 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-2017-4901?

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-2017-4901?

CVE-2017-4901 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 9.9 (CRITICAL). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.

Risk Snapshot
9.9
CRITICAL SEVERITY
CVE ID CVE-2017-4901
Weakness CWE-119
Vendor vmware
Product fusion
Published 2017-06-08
Vector CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H