# VMware vCenter Server: 2 actively exploited vulnerabilities · pwn.watch

> CVE-2024-38812: VMware vCenter Server contains a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. This vulnerability could allow an attacker with network access to the vCenter Server to execute remote code by sending a specially crafted packet. CVE-2024-38813: 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. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2024-11-20.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813 · generated 2026-10-22T20:45:43.249Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: VMware vCenter Server
- Started: 2024-09-17 · closed: 2024-11-20
- CVEs: CVE-2024-38812, CVE-2024-38813
- Affected: See vendor advisory (versions are not listed in the KEV record)
- Fixed in: See vendor advisory linked in sources

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2024-11-20: CISA added CVE-2024-38812 to the KEV catalog (federal deadline 2024-12-11) (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog)
- 2024-11-20: CISA added CVE-2024-38813 to the KEV catalog (federal deadline 2024-12-11) (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog)
- 2024-09-17: CVE-2024-38812 published (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38812)
- 2024-09-17: CVE-2024-38813 published (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38813)

## Fix brief
# Security brief: VMware vCenter Server: 2 actively exploited vulnerabilities

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813 · status: closed (closed Nov 20, 2024) · severity: critical · updated Nov 20, 2024

## Patch status
**PATCHED: fixed releases exist. Upgrade to a fixed version.**

## What it is
CVE-2024-38812: VMware vCenter Server contains a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. This vulnerability could allow an attacker with network access to the vCenter Server to execute remote code by sending a specially crafted packet. CVE-2024-38813: 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. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2024-11-20.

Severity detail: CVSS 9.8 (v3.1, CNA), actively exploited (CISA KEV)

- Product: VMware vCenter Server
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2024-38812, CVE-2024-38813

## Affected versions
- See vendor advisory (versions are not listed in the KEV record)

## Check whether you're affected
No generic command applies (the product is a hosted service, appliance or desktop app). Check the installed version in its admin UI / About screen and compare with the versions above.

## Fix
Upgrade to one of these fixed versions (or later on the same branch):
- See vendor advisory linked in sources

After upgrading, re-run the checks above and redeploy/restart the affected services.

## Latest updates
- Nov 20, 2024: CISA added CVE-2024-38812 to the KEV catalog (federal deadline 2024-12-11)
- Nov 20, 2024: CISA added CVE-2024-38813 to the KEV catalog (federal deadline 2024-12-11)
- Sep 17, 2024: CVE-2024-38812 published
- Sep 17, 2024: CVE-2024-38813 published

## Advisories
- [VMware advisory: CVE-2024-38812](https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/24968) (VMware)
- [NVD: CVE-2024-38812](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38812) (NVD)
- [NVD: CVE-2024-38813](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38813) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

## Caveats
Derived from the CISA KEV JSON feed (catalogVersion 2026.10.21); CVSS from the CVE record (cveawg.mitre.org). startedAt is the CVE publication date when it fell in 2024 before the KEV listing, else the KEV dateAdded; exploitation may have begun earlier. closedAt is the KEV listing date (a fix or mitigation was available then unless noted).

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Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/vmware-vcenter-server-cve-2024-38812-38813.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.