CVE-2012-3289: VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.4, VMware Player 4.x before 4.0.4, VMware ESXi 3.5 through 5.0, and VMware E

This month

HIGH 7.8DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2012-3289 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting workstation, player, esx. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.4, VMware Player 4.x before 4.0.4, VMware ESXi 3.5 through 5.0, and VMware ESX 3.5 through 4.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (guest OS crash) via crafted traffic from a remote virtual device.

Why this priority

High severity

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	1.6% (top 24%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-94
Published	2012-06-14
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

2012-06-14 20:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:42 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware workstation DOWNGRADE

Affected: 8.0 · 8.0.1 · 8.0.2 · 8.0.3

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 · 4.0.3

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 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.

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.

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-2012-3289?

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

Is CVE-2012-3289 being exploited?

CVE-2012-3289 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-2012-3289 affect?

CVE-2012-3289 affects workstation, player, esx. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.4, VMware Player 4.x before 4.0.4, VMware ESXi 3.5 through 5.0, and VMware ESX 3.5 through 4.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (guest OS crash) via crafted traffic from a remote virtual

How urgent is CVE-2012-3289?

Priority 46/100. High severity

Software pages

VMware vulnerabilities

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References

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