VMSA-2010-0020 VMware ESXi 4.1 Update Installer SFCB Authentication Flaw

[VMware Security Team <security () vmware com>]

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                   VMware Security Advisory

Advisory ID:       VMSA-2010-0020
Synopsis:          VMware ESXi 4.1 Update Installer SFCB Authentication
                   Flaw
Issue date:        2010-12-21
Updated on:        2010-12-21
CVE numbers:       CVE-2010-4573
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1. Summary

   VMware ESXi 4.1 Update Installer might introduce a SFCB
   Authentication Flaw.

2. Relevant releases

   VMware ESXi 4.1 if upgraded from ESXi 3.5 or ESXi 4.0 with a modified
   SFCB configuration file.

3. Problem Description

 a. ESXi 4.1 Update Installer SFCB Authentication Flaw

    Under certain conditions, the ESXi 4.1 installer that upgrades an
    ESXi 3.5 or ESXi 4.0 host to ESXi 4.1 incorrectly handles the SFCB
    authentication mode. The result is that SFCB authentication could
    allow login with any username and password combination.

    An ESXi 4.1 host is affected if all of the following apply:
    - ESXi 4.1 was upgraded from ESXi 3.5 or ESXi 4.0.
    - The SFCB configuration file /etc/sfcb/sfcb.cfg was modified prior
      to the upgrade.
    - The sfcbd daemon is running (sfcbd runs by default).

    Workaround
    A workaround that can be applied to ESXi 4.1 is described in VMware
    Knowledge Base Article KB 1031761

    The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org)
    has assigned the name CVE-2010-4573 to this issue.

    Column 4 of the following table lists the action required to
    remediate the vulnerability in each release, if a solution is
    available.

    VMware         Product   Running  Replace with/
    Product        Version   on       Apply Patch
    =============  ========  =======  =================
    VirtualCenter  any       Windows  not affected

    hosted *       any       any      not affected

    ESXi           4.1       ESXi     see KB 1031761 for workaround **
    ESXi           4.0       ESXi     not affected
    ESXi           3.5       ESXi     not affected

    ESX            any       ESX      not affected

  * hosted products are VMware Workstation, Player, ACE, Server, Fusion.
  ** ESXi 4.1 is only affected if upgraded from ESXi 3.5 or ESXi 4.0
     with a modified SFCB configuration file.

4. Solution

   Please review the patch/release notes for your product and version
   and verify the md5sum of your downloaded file.

   ESXi 4.1
   --------
   Workaround described in VMware Knowledge Base Article KB 1031761
   http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1031761


5. References

   CVE numbers
   http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2010-4573

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6. Change log

2010-12-21  VMSA-2010-0020
Initial security advisory after release of VMware knowledge base article
that documents workaround on 2010-12-21.

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7. Contact

E-mail list for product security notifications and announcements:
http://lists.vmware.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/security-announce

This Security Advisory is posted to the following lists:

  * security-announce at lists.vmware.com
  * bugtraq at securityfocus.com
  * full-disclosure at lists.grok.org.uk

E-mail:  security at vmware.com
PGP key at: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1055

VMware Security Center
http://www.vmware.com/security

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http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories

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http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/eos.html

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Copyright 2010 VMware Inc.  All rights reserved.

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