---
title: "CVE-2024-38812: VMware vCenter Server Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2024-38812/
description: "CVE-2024-38812 (VMware vCenter Server): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). The vCenter Server contains a heap-overflow vulnerability in the implementation of…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2024-09-17
date_modified: 2025-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2024-38812"
kev: true
cvss: 9.8
epss: 0.54571
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2024-38812: VMware vCenter Server Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run VMware vCenter Server. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-11-20, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2024-12-11 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 54.6% , percentile 99: FIRST’s model estimates a 54.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.

## What it is

The vCenter Server contains a heap-overflow vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted network packet potentially leading to remote code execution.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- n/a VMware vCenter Server: 8.0 < 8.0 U3b, 7.0 < 7.0 U3s
- n/a VMware Cloud Foundation: 5.x, 4.x

## Severity

- vmware CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2024-11-20; federal due date 2024-12-11. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 54.57% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (support.broadcom.com)](https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/24968)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2024-38812](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38812)
- [NVD entry CVE-2024-38812](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38812)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-38812)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2024-38812/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt