CVE-2006-2481

VMware ESX 2.0.x < 2.0.2 and 2.x < 2.5.2 patch 4 - Privilege Escalation via Base64-Encoded Cookie Credentials

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2006-2481. PoCs published by Stephen de Vries.

AI-analyzed exploit summary The provided text describes an information disclosure vulnerability in VMware ESX Server versions 2.5.3 P2 and earlier. It outlines two issues where session IDs, usernames, and passwords may be exposed due to insecure handling of session cookies and authentication credentials.

Description

VMware ESX Server 2.0.x before 2.0.2 and 2.x before 2.5.2 patch 4 stores authentication credentials in base 64 encoded format in the vmware.mui.kid and vmware.mui.sid cookies, which allows attackers to gain privileges by obtaining the cookies using attacks such as cross-site scripting (CVE-2005-3619).

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WRITEUP VERIFIED
by Stephen de Vries · textremotemultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/28312

The provided text describes an information disclosure vulnerability in VMware ESX Server versions 2.5.3 P2 and earlier. It outlines two issues where session IDs, usernames, and passwords may be exposed due to insecure handling of session cookies and authentication credentials.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: VMware ESX Server versions 2.5.3 P2, 2.1.3 P1, 2.0.2, 2.0.2 P1, and 2.5.2 P4
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to session cookies or local access to the host system
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (7)

Core 7
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/441728/100/100/threaded
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_misc
http://www.corsaire.com/advisories/c060512-001.txt
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/19249
Various Sources x_refsource_confirm
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2118366
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/441825/100/100/threaded
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2006/3075
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/21230

Scores

EPSS 0.0706
EPSS Percentile 93.5%

Details

CWE
CWE-255
Status published
Products (7)
vmware/esx 2.0
vmware/esx 2.0.1
vmware/esx 2.1
vmware/esx 2.1.1
vmware/esx 2.1.2
vmware/esx 2.5
vmware/esx 2.5.2
Published Jul 31, 2006
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026