CVE-2017-4915
VMware Workstation Pro/Player contains an insecure library loading vulnerability via ALSA sound driver configuration files.
Does this matter?
2 public exploits are published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 5.4%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
VMware Workstation Pro/Player contains an insecure library loading vulnerability via ALSA sound driver configuration files. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow unprivileged host users to escalate their privileges to root in a Linux host machine.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 5.41% probability · 93th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 22 May 2017
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-863
- Affected
- vmware/workstation player · vmware/workstation pro
- Source
- security@vmware.com
EPSS moved from 7.0% on 21 September 2026 to 5.4% on 27 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-47171source ↗ | VMware Workstation/Player < 12.5.5 - Local Privilege Escalationmultiple · bcoles | local | 30 December 2018 | no |
| EDB-42045source ↗ | VMware Workstation for Linux 12.5.2 build-4638234 - ALSA Configuration Host Local Privilege Escalationlinux · Google Security Research | local | 22 May 2017 | yes |
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98566Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038525
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42045/
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2017-0009.htmlPatch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98566Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038525
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42045/
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2017-0009.htmlPatch, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.