CVE-2024-38813
CVE-2024-38813 is a security flaw in VMware vCenter Server, VMware’s software for running virtual machines in data centres. Someone who already has a foothold can use VMware vCenter Server to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 20 Nov 2024.[1]
VMware vCenter Server is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 8.0 U3b, 7.0 U3s, 8.0_u3b and 7.0_u3s and others.
Description
CISA calls it a privilege escalation in VMware vCenter Server. In its words: “VMware vCenter contains an improper check for dropped privileges vulnerability. This vulnerability could allow an attacker with network access to the vCenter Server to escalate privileges to root by sending a specially crafted packet.”[1]
The underlying weakness is CWE-250, CWE-273, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| VMware vCenter Server | 8.0 U3b |
| VMware vCenter Server | 7.0 U3s |
| vmware_center_server | 8.0_u3b |
| vmware_center_server | 7.0_u3s |
| vmware_cloud_foundation | 6.0 |
| vmware_cloud_foundation | 5.0 |
Most families won’t have VMware vCenter Server; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 20 Nov 2024, 64 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 11 Dec 2024 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 17%. That’s in the top 3% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
VMware has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.VMware vCenter Server is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 8.0 U3b, 7.0 U3s, 8.0_u3b and 7.0_u3s and others), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 11 Dec 2024 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 17%.[4] |
See also
Other VMware vCenter Server flaws
- CVE-2024-38812: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2022-22948: incorrect default file permissions ·
- CVE-2023-34048: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2021-22017: improper access control ·
- CVE-2021-22005: file upload ·
- CVE-2021-21985: improper input validation ·
Other VMware flaws
- CVE-2025-22226, VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion: information disclosure ·
- CVE-2025-22225, VMware ESXi: arbitrary write ·
- CVE-2025-22224, VMware ESXi and Workstation: TOCTOU race condition ·
- CVE-2024-37085, VMware ESXi: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2023-20867, VMware Tools: authentication bypass ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-38812, VMware vCenter Server: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Every VMware flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in November 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “VMware vCenter Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 20 Nov 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2024-38813 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 17 Sep 2024.
- ^ VMware. Advisories and fixes: support.broadcom.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.174, percentile 97.1, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2024-38813”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.