CVE-2020-3969

Guest-to-hypervisor code execution via SVGA heap overflow

Published Jun 24, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Heap-overflow in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion allows local users of virtual machines with 3D graphics enabled to execute code on the hypervisor. The SVGA device performs an off-by-one heap operation on guest-controlled graphics data, corrupting hypervisor memory. Exploitation requires local guest access and additional conditions; 3D graphics are disabled by default on ESXi but enabled by default on Workstation and Fusion.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-overflow in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion allows local users of virtual machines with 3D graphics enabled to execute code on the hypervisor. The SVGA device performs an off-by-one heap operation on guest-controlled graphics data, corrupting hypervisor memory. Exploitation requires local guest access and additional conditions; 3D graphics are disabled by default on ESXi but enabled by default on Workstation and Fusion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-3969
Published
Jun 24, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware Workstation
Classifications
CWE-193, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 24, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=15.x before 15.5.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware Workstationversion=15.x before 15.5.5
VMware · VMware Fusionversion=11.x before 11.5.5
VMware · VMware ESXiversion=6.5 before ESXi650-202005401-SG; version=6.7 before ESXi670-202004101-SG; version=7.0 before ESXi_7.0.0-1.20.16321839

Published CVSS scores

4.4NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-193Off-by-one Error
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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