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VMware’s 2019 advisory VMSA-2019-0012 addressed two pixel-shader flaws in ESXi, Workstation and Fusion: CVE-2019-5521, an out-of-bounds read, and CVE-2019-5684, an out-of-bounds write. Both required access to a virtual machine with 3D graphics enabled; the write flaw also depended on an affected NVIDIA graphics driver on the host. VMware’s fix was a product-specific software update. The version numbers below are historical 2019 thresholds, not guidance that a system is supported or fully patched today.
What were the VMware pixel shader vulnerabilities?
VMware Support advisory VMSA-2019-0012, initially published August 2, 2019, covered two separate flaws in pixel-shader functionality. VMware listed affected product families as ESXi, Workstation Pro and Player, and Fusion Pro and Fusion. The precise affected and fixed releases varied by product and version.
| CVE | Flaw | VMware-described consequence | Additional condition | VMware CVSSv3 rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2019-5521 | Out-of-bounds read | Information disclosure or a host denial-of-service condition | Access to a VM with 3D graphics enabled | 6.3–8.5 range stated across the advisory; consult VMware’s entry for the issue-specific rating |
| CVE-2019-5684 | Out-of-bounds write | Potentially more serious host impact; SecurityWeek reported possible host code execution in the NVIDIA-driver context | Access to a VM with 3D graphics enabled and an affected NVIDIA graphics driver on the host | 8.5 |
The ratings are VMware’s 2019 CVSSv3 assessments, not a current assessment of risk on a particular installation. NVIDIA’s driver issue was separately reported with a CVSS score of 7.8; that is a distinct rating and should not be combined with VMware’s scores. SecurityWeek’s 2019 coverage describes the NVIDIA-specific context.
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Could CVE-2019-5684 affect a Workstation or Fusion VM?
Potentially, if the applicable conditions were met: the attacker needed access to a VM with 3D graphics enabled, and the host needed an affected NVIDIA graphics driver. VMware said 3D graphics was enabled by default in Workstation and Fusion, but not enabled by default on ESXi. Default settings do not establish whether 3D graphics is enabled on an individual VM; check its configuration rather than assuming.
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For CVE-2019-5521, VMware described possible information disclosure or a host denial of service following exploitation. For CVE-2019-5684, VMware specified the affected NVIDIA-driver condition. SecurityWeek reported that the write vulnerability could potentially permit arbitrary code execution on the host in that context; this is a qualified consequence, not a claim that every Workstation or Fusion VM was exploitable.
Which VMware patches fixed CVE-2019-5521?
The fix depended on the product and release branch. NVD’s historical CVE record lists these thresholds for CVE-2019-5521:
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| Product | Historical affected threshold | Historical fixed threshold |
|---|---|---|
| ESXi 6.7 | Versions before ESXi670-201904101-SG | ESXi670-201904101-SG |
| ESXi 6.5 | Versions before ESXi650-201903001 | ESXi650-201903001 |
| Workstation 15.x | Versions before 15.0.3 | 15.0.3 |
| Workstation 14.x | Versions before 14.1.6 | 14.1.6 |
| Fusion 11.x | Versions before 11.0.3 | 11.0.3 |
| Fusion 10.x | Versions before 10.1.6 | 10.1.6 |
These are historical thresholds recorded for CVE-2019-5521, not a complete patch list for every product or both vulnerabilities. For a specific installation, use VMware’s full response matrix in VMSA-2019-0012 and check the product’s current lifecycle and support information. A release that crossed a 2019 threshold is not necessarily supported or fully patched now. NVD’s record is available at CVE-2019-5521.
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What should an administrator or user do?
- Identify the exact product and release. Record whether the installation is ESXi, Workstation, or Fusion, plus its version and update level.
- Check the VM’s 3D graphics setting. The 2019 advisory’s exploitation prerequisite was access to a VM with 3D graphics enabled. Do not rely solely on the product’s default setting.
- For CVE-2019-5684, check the host graphics driver condition. VMware’s advisory says the write flaw required an affected NVIDIA graphics driver on the host.
- Match the installation to VMware’s advisory response matrix. Apply the relevant product-specific update and verify the resulting version against the vendor’s instructions. Do not use one product’s threshold as a patch instruction for another.
- Assess present-day support separately. These CVEs and thresholds date to 2019. Consult current VMware/Broadcom lifecycle and security information for the exact product before treating an old fixed release as an adequate deployment.
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