📄 Description (English)
VMware ESXi OpenSLP Use-After-Free Vulnerability — VMware ESXi OpenSLP contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an attacker residing in the management network with access to port 427 to perform remote code execution.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2020-3992 is a critical use-after-free vulnerability in VMware ESXi OpenSLP service (CVSS 9.0) enabling remote code execution for attackers on the management network with port 427 access. This vulnerability poses severe risk to Saudi organizations operating virtualized infrastructure, as successful exploitation grants complete hypervisor compromise. Immediate patching is essential given public exploit availability and widespread ESXi deployment across Saudi enterprises.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 19, 2026 11:46
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Critical impact on Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government data centers (NCA oversight), healthcare providers (MOH), energy sector (ARAMCO, SEC), and telecommunications (STC, Mobily). ESXi hypervisors host critical business applications and sensitive data across these sectors. Compromise enables lateral movement to guest VMs, data exfiltration, ransomware deployment, and persistent backdoor installation. Saudi critical infrastructure operators face operational disruption and regulatory compliance violations.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all ESXi hosts in your environment and document their versions
2. Restrict network access to port 427 (OpenSLP) to authorized management networks only using firewall rules
3. Disable OpenSLP service if not required: SSH to ESXi host and execute 'chkconfig slpd off' and 'service slpd stop'
4. Monitor port 427 for unauthorized access attempts
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Apply VMware ESXi security patches immediately (ESXi 6.5, 6.7, 7.0 have patches available)
2. Test patches in non-production environment first
3. Schedule maintenance windows for production patching
4. Verify patch installation: 'esxcli software vib list | grep esx-base'
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching delayed):
1. Implement network segmentation isolating management network from untrusted networks
2. Deploy IDS/IPS rules detecting OpenSLP exploitation attempts
3. Enable ESXi firewall rules: 'esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e false -r slpd'
4. Implement VPN requirement for management network access
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for unexpected connections to port 427/UDP
2. Alert on OpenSLP service crashes or restarts
3. Track failed authentication attempts on management interfaces
4. Monitor for unusual process execution from slpd service
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع مضيفي ESXi في البيئة وتوثيق إصداراتهم
2. تقييد الوصول الشبكي للمنفذ 427 (OpenSLP) للشبكات الإدارية المصرح بها فقط باستخدام قواعد جدار الحماية
3. تعطيل خدمة OpenSLP إذا لم تكن مطلوبة: الاتصال بـ SSH وتنفيذ 'chkconfig slpd off' و 'service slpd stop'
4. مراقبة المنفذ 427 لمحاولات الوصول غير المصرح بها
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تطبيق تصحيحات أمان VMware ESXi فوراً (ESXi 6.5, 6.7, 7.0 متوفرة)
2. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
3. جدولة نوافذ الصيانة لتصحيح الإنتاج
4. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح: 'esxcli software vib list | grep esx-base'
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح):
1. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لعزل شبكة الإدارة عن الشبكات غير الموثوقة
2. نشر قواعد IDS/IPS للكشف عن محاولات استغلال OpenSLP
3. تفعيل قواعد جدار حماية ESXi: 'esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e false -r slpd'
4. تنفيذ متطلبات VPN للوصول إلى شبكة الإدارة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة الاتصالات غير المتوقعة بالمنفذ 427/UDP
2. تنبيهات عند توقف أو إعادة تشغيل خدمة OpenSLP
3. تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة على واجهات الإدارة
4. مراقبة تنفيذ العمليات غير العادية من خدمة slpd
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.3.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and criticality assessment
PR.IP-12 - System and information integrity
DE.CM-1 - Detection and analysis
RS.RP-1 - Response planning
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.2.1 - Monitoring and measurement of information security
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development and change management
A.16.1.5 - Response to information security incidents
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
6.2 - Security patches and updates
11.2 - Vulnerability scanning
12.10 - Incident response plan
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
VMware:ESXi