IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS9.8
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2019-5544|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

VMware ESXi and Horizon Desktop as a Service (DaaS) OpenSLP contains a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows an attacker with network access to port 427 to overwrite the heap of the OpenSLP service to perform remote code execution.

Published Dec 6, 2019 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. CISA has confirmed use of this vulnerability in known ransomware campaigns — treat as high priority for remediation. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2022-05-03 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in VMware VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS. OpenSLP as used in ESXi and the Horizon DaaS appliances has a heap overwrite issue. VMware has evaluated the severity of this issue to be in the Critical severity range with a maximum CVSSv3 base score of 9.8. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

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Phishing link

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Malicious file

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Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

Virtualisation Administrators
Infrastructure Team
IT Security
Running horizon daas: 8.0.0 ≤ v < 9.0.0.0; esxi: 6.0, 6.5, 6.7; enterprise linux desktop: 6.0, 7.0; enterprise linux for ibm z systems: 6.0_s390x, 7.0_s390x; enterprise linux for ibm z systems eus: 7.7_s390x; enterprise linux for power big endian: 6.0_ppc64, 7.0_ppc64; enterprise linux for power big endian eus: 7.7_ppc64; enterprise linux for power little endian: 7.0_ppc64le; enterprise linux for power little endian eus: 7.7_ppc64le; enterprise linux server: 6.0, 7.0; enterprise linux server aus: 7.7; enterprise linux server eus: 7.7; enterprise linux server tus: 7.7; enterprise linux workstation: 6.0, 7.0; openslp: v ≤ 2.0.0; fedora: 30, 31
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

CISA confirms this CVE has been used in known ransomware campaigns. Added to the KEV catalog on 2021-11-03; federal agencies required to remediate by 2022-05-03.

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2019-0022.html
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5544
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-5544
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