VMware Fusion (11.x before 11.5.2), VMware Remote Console for Mac (11.x and prior before 11.0.1) and Horizon Client for Mac (5.x and prior before 5.4.0) contain a privilege escalation vulnerability due to improper use of setuid binaries. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow attackers with normal user privileges to escalate their privileges to root on the system where Fusion, VMRC or Horizon Client is installed.

ESXi, Workstation, Fusion, VMRC and Horizon Client contain a use-after-free vulnerability in the virtual sound device. VMware has evaluated the severity of this issue to be in the Important severity range with a maximum CVSSv3 base score of 8.5.

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of VMware Workstation. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the VGAuthService service. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied OpenSSL configuration file prior to using it. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM.