Vendors like Dell US and Lenovo provide pre-patched "Custom Images" that include specific hardware drivers and baseline security updates. 3. How to Apply "Patched" Updates
Flaws in the OpenSLP service (such as CVE-2020-3992 and CVE-2021-21974) allow unauthenticated attackers to execute commands remotely over the network.
The base version of vSphere 6.7 Update 3 launched with . Over its lifecycle, VMware issued many subsequent express patches to mitigate critical vulnerabilities, resolve driver conflicts, and prevent purple screens of death (PSODs). The Security and Support Status
Note: OEM ISOs often lag slightly behind VMware’s latest patch level but include critical hardware drivers.
The journey of VMware ESXi 6.7 Update 3 is a long-standing saga in the virtualization world, moving from its peak as a flagship hypervisor to its current status as an out-of-support legacy platform that still occasionally receives critical security updates. The Core Release: ESXi 6.7 Update 3 Launched on August 20, 2019
Finding the correct ESXi 6.7 U3 patched ISO can be tricky due to the transition to Broadcom. Below is a breakdown of the best sources.
: Whitelisted Dell EMC vSAN Ready Nodes (R740XD and R640) for GPU Improvements : Support for up to four NVIDIA virtual GPU (vGPU) devices per virtual machine. Broadcom Techdocs The Evolution of "Patched" ISOs
Once you have verified your patched image, observe these deployment guidelines to ensure a flawless setup: Create a Reliable Boot Drive
The base ISO (Build 14320388 – released July 2019) is outdated. If you install it fresh today, you will be exposed to dozens of known CVEs, including those affecting:
While ESXi 6.7 Update 3 is widely considered the most stable "legacy" version for older hardware, it reached the on October 15, 2022. Officially downloading a "patched" ISO now requires navigating the Broadcom Support Portal, which replaced the previous VMware Customer Connect site following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. 1. Identifying the Correct "Patched" Version
Official downloads are now managed through the .
: Running unpatched code exposes home labs and air-gapped legacy environments to older vulnerabilities like Log4j, ransomware variations, and memory leaks.
Found under the "Products" tab. Select "VMware Cloud Foundation" or search for "vSphere".