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CVE-2012-2449: VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.3, VMware Player 4.x before 4.0.3, VMware Fusion 4.x through 4.1.2, VMware E

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This month
HIGH 9.0DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2012-2449 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 9.0) affecting workstation, player, fusion. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.3, VMware Player 4.x before 4.0.3, VMware Fusion 4.x through 4.1.2, VMware ESXi 3.5 through 5.0, and VMware ESX 3.5 through 4.1 do not properly configure the virtual floppy device, which allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write operation and VMX process crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code on the host OS by leveraging administrative privileges on the guest OS.

Why this priority

  • Critical severity

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

Risk facts

CVSS score9.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance2.5% (top 15%)
CISA exploited listNo
WeaknessCWE-119
Published2012-05-04
Last modified2026-06-16
Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: vmware

Share: LinkedIn · X · Reddit

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

vmware workstation DOWNGRADE
Affected: 8.0 · 8.0.1 · 8.0.2
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy workstation || rpm -q workstation || workstation --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison workstation sudo apt install workstation=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0> sudo apt-mark hold workstation
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list workstation sudo dnf downgrade workstation-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0> sudo dnf versionlock add workstation
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.
vmware player DOWNGRADE
Affected: 4.0 · 4.0.1 · 4.0.2
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy player || rpm -q player || player --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison player sudo apt install player=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold player
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list player sudo dnf downgrade player-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add player
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.
vmware fusion DOWNGRADE
Affected: 4.0 · 4.0.1 · 4.0.2 · 4.1 · 4.1.1 · 4.1.2
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy fusion || rpm -q fusion || fusion --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison fusion sudo apt install fusion=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold fusion
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list fusion sudo dnf downgrade fusion-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add fusion
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.
vmware esxi MITIGATE
Affected: 3.5 · 3.5 1 · 4.0 · 4.0 1 · 4.0 2 · 4.0 3 · 4.0 4 · 4.1
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.5
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
vmware esx MITIGATE
Affected: 3.5 · 3.5 update1 · 3.5 update2 · 3.5 update3 · 4.0 · 4.1
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.5
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
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-2012-2449?

workstation: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; player: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; fusion: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-2449 being exploited?

CVE-2012-2449 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-2012-2449 affect?

CVE-2012-2449 affects workstation, player, fusion. Severity is high (CVSS 9.0). VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.3, VMware Player 4.x before 4.0.3, VMware Fusion 4.x through 4.1.2, VMware ESXi 3.5 through 5.0, and VMware ESX 3.5 through 4.1 do not properly configure the virtual floppy device, which allows guest OS use

How urgent is CVE-2012-2449?

Priority 53/100. Critical severity

Software pages

VMware vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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