Time-of-check time-of-use race condition in VMware Fusion
Priority LOW 30CWE-367Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
VMware Fusion (11.x before 11.5.5), VMware Remote Console for Mac (11.x and prior) and VMware Horizon Client for Mac (5.x and prior) contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability due to a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) issue in the service opener. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow attackers with normal user privileges to escalate their privileges to root on the system where Fusion, VMRC and Horizon Client are installed.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00217 12th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed VMware Fusion (VMware): 11.5.5
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMware | VMware Fusion | 11 to before 11.5.5 | 11.5.5 | Patch available | CNA |
| VMware | VMware Remote Console for Mac | up to V11.x | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| VMware | VMware Horizon Client for Mac | up to 5.x | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- VMware Fusion VendorVMware Affected 11 to before 11.5.5 Fixed in 11.5.5 Patch available CNA
- VMware Remote Console for Mac VendorVMware Affected up to V11.x Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- VMware Horizon Client for Mac VendorVMware Affected up to 5.x Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:fusion:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0.0 to before 11.5.5 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:horizon_client:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 5.4.0 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:remote_console:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 11.0.1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:fusion:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0.0 to before 11.5.5 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:horizon_client:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 5.4.0 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:remote_console:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 11.0.1 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
Remediation
- Fix · CNA VMware Fusion (VMware) Fixed in 11.5.5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-3957
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jj4f-vfw3-qv39
References
More VMware Fusion vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-03448 Improper privilege management in VMware Fusion, VMware Remote Console for Mac and Horizon… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2025-16137 Out-of-bounds read in ESXi KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
- TI-2017-03716 Observable discrepancy in Intel Most Modern Operating Systems CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.6
- TI-2017-03034 Memory corruption in VMware Workstation Pro/Player CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2016-04622 Untrusted search path vulnerability in the HGFS (aka Shared Folders) feature in VMware… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2011-03420 Buffer overflow in VMware Workstation 7.x before 7.1.5, VMware Player 3.x before 3.1.5… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
Sources
- CVE-2020-3957 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-3957 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jj4f-vfw3-qv39 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences