CriticalCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Remote Code Execution in VMware vCenter Server DCERPC

IdentifiersCVE-2024-38812CWE-122· Heap-based Buffer Overflow

CVE-2024-38812 is a critical heap-overflow vulnerability in VMware vCenter Server’s implementation of the DCERPC/DCE-RPC protocol. According to the provided content, a malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server can trigger the flaw by sending a specially crafted network packet, which may result in remote code execution. The issue affects VMware vCenter Server 8.0 and 7.0, and products containing vCenter, including VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x and 4.x. The content also indicates Broadcom later confirmed exploitation in the wild and that an earlier patch for CVE-2024-38812 was incomplete, requiring customers to apply the latest updates.

For your environment

Are you exposed to this one?

Mallory correlates every CVE against your assets, your vendors, and active adversary campaigns. Know which vulnerabilities matter for you, not just which ones are loud.

Start free trial

ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can lead to unauthenticated remote code execution on the vCenter Server. Given vCenter’s role as the management plane for VMware environments, compromise can provide an attacker control over a highly privileged virtualization management system, creating opportunities for broader environment compromise, including follow-on access to managed infrastructure and administrative operations.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

No workarounds are available according to the provided content. Until patching is completed, reduce exposure by restricting network access to vCenter Server to only trusted administrative networks and hosts, avoid public internet exposure, and closely monitor for suspicious DCERPC-related activity and anomalous access to vCenter services. However, patching is the required corrective action.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the latest Broadcom/VMware security updates for all affected vCenter deployments. The content states fixed versions include vCenter Server 8.0 U3b and 7.0 U3s, with corresponding asynchronous patches for VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x and 4.x. Because the original patch for CVE-2024-38812 was reported as incomplete, organizations should ensure they install the most recent vendor update rather than relying on earlier September 2024 fixes alone.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

BroadcomCloud Foundationapplication

BroadcomVcenter Serverapplication

BroadcomVmware Cloud Foundationapplication

BroadcomVmware Vcenter Serverapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

14 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

14 SOURCESView more in app

scworldNews

Jan 26, 2026

VMware vCenter Server bug added to CISA list exploited vulnerabilities | SC Media

One of a cluster of four vulnerabilities affecting VMware vCenter Server’s DCE/RPC protocol implementation, mentioned as compounding risk when chained with CVE-2024-37079.

security online infoNews

Jan 25, 2026

CISA Alert: Critical VMware vCenter RCE (CVSS 9.8) Now Exploited in the Wild

Referenced only as a related item: a critical remote code execution vulnerability in VMware vCenter (no additional details in the main content).

security affairsNews

Jan 24, 2026

U.S. CISA adds a flaw in Broadcom VMware vCenter Server to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

One of four DCERPC implementation vulnerabilities in VMware vCenter Server referenced by researchers; specific impact details are not provided in the content.

the hacker newsNews

Jan 24, 2026

CISA Adds Actively Exploited VMware vCenter Flaw CVE-2024-37079 to KEV Catalog

A vulnerability in the same DCE/RPC service flaw set referenced by the researchers; specific technical impact is not detailed in the provided content.

+8 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

Start free trial

Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity1

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES

MITRE CVE

cve.org · CVE-2024-38812

NVD

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38812

MITRE CWE · CWE-122

Heap-based Buffer Overflow

Vendor Advisory

support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/24968

US Government Resource

cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-38812