CVE-2019-5526
VMware Workstation (15.x before 15.1.0) contains a DLL hijacking issue because some DLL files are improperly loaded by the application.
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 8.5%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
VMware Workstation (15.x before 15.1.0) contains a DLL hijacking issue because some DLL files are improperly loaded by the application. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow attackers with normal user privileges to escalate their privileges to administrator on a windows host where Workstation is installed.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 8.46% probability · 95th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 16 May 2019
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-427
- Affected
- vmware/workstation
- Source
- security@vmware.com
EPSS moved from 13.1% on 21 September 2026 to 8.5% on 26 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (1)
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.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152946/VMware-Workstation-DLL-Hijacking.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/108333Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0007.htmlVendor Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152946/VMware-Workstation-DLL-Hijacking.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/108333Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0007.htmlVendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.