CVE-2009-1142: An issue was discovered in open-vm-tools 2009.03.18-154848

Routine

MEDIUM 6.7DOWNGRADE

CVE-2009-1142 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.7) affecting open vm tools. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in open-vm-tools 2009.03.18-154848. Local users can gain privileges via a symlink attack on /tmp files if vmware-user-suid-wrapper is setuid root and the ChmodChownDirectory function is enabled.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.7 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 79%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-59
Published	2022-11-23
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: vmware

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2022-11-23 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:06 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware open vm tools DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2009.03.18-154848

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2009.03.18-154848

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy open-vm-tools || rpm -q open-vm-tools || open-vm-tools --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2009.03.18-154848 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison open-vm-tools sudo apt install open-vm-tools=<VERSION_BEFORE_2009.03.18-154848> sudo apt-mark hold open-vm-tools

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list open-vm-tools sudo dnf downgrade open-vm-tools-<VERSION_BEFORE_2009.03.18-154848> sudo dnf versionlock add open-vm-tools

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2009-1142?

open vm tools: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2009-1142 being exploited?

CVE-2009-1142 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2009-1142 affect?

CVE-2009-1142 affects open vm tools. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.7). An issue was discovered in open-vm-tools 2009.03.18-154848. Local users can gain privileges via a symlink attack on /tmp files if vmware-user-suid-wrapper is setuid root and the ChmodChownDirectory function is enabled.

How urgent is CVE-2009-1142?

Priority 29/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

VMware vulnerabilities

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References

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