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CVE-2024-37085

VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass

6.8 MEDIUMActively exploited (CISA KEV)Used in ransomwareEPSS 26.8%
  1. Published25 Jun 2024
  2. Added to CISA KEV30 Jul 2024
  3. Remediation due20 Aug 2024
Actively exploited (CISA KEV)

VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.

Added to KEV: 30 Jul 2024Federal remediation due: 20 Aug 2024Used in ransomware

Description

VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2012/09/joining-vsphere-hosts-to-active-directory.html by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorNetwork
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredHigh
User interactionRequired
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

VMware Cloud Foundation≥ 4.0 < 5.2
VMware Esxi7.0 · 8.0

Remediation

Fixed in
VMware Cloud Foundation≥ 5.2

References

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Frequently asked

Is CVE-2024-37085 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2024-37085 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 30 Jul 2024. It has been used in ransomware campaigns.

How severe is CVE-2024-37085?

CVE-2024-37085 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.8, rated medium. EPSS estimates a 26.8% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2024-37085?

Affected products include VMware Cloud Foundation, VMware Esxi.

How do I fix CVE-2024-37085?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-37085 against the real software inventory on every managed device, as each hourly inventory arrives. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, a risk for it never ranks below high, and the update that fixes it moves to the Emergency patch lane. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.