Vmware Workstation Pro V17.6.1 Build 24319023 -... Instant

VMware Workstation Pro v17.6.1 is a maintenance release that improves stability, enhances guest OS support for Windows 11 and Server 2025, and brings official free licensing for personal use. The update introduces improved vTPM performance, local VM auto-start, and removes features like Unity mode and certain hardware passthroughs. For the full release notes, visit Broadcom TechDocs. VMware Workstation 17.6.1 Pro Release Notes

: Ensure all guests are shut down and Workstation is closed before running the as an administrator. VMware Workstation Pro v17.6.1 Build 24319023 -...

While the Broadcom acquisition caused uncertainty in the VMware community, this build proves that the engineering team is still committed to quality. Build 24319023 is not flashy; it is reliable. Graphics rendering is smoother, memory usage is leaner, and the security patches are mandatory for anyone handling sensitive data. VMware Workstation Pro v17

Stability Improvements: It resolves a critical svga Exception 0xc0000005 error that occurred when powering on virtual machines with 3D graphics disabled while hardware acceleration was globally enabled. CVE-2024-38811 (CVSS 8

Performance Benchmarks: Raw Power in a Sandbox

We tested VMware Workstation Pro v17.6.1 Build 24319023 against its main rival, Oracle VirtualBox 7.1, and the previous build (v17.5.2). The host was a Dell Precision 7860 (Intel i9-13950HX, 64GB DDR5, NVMe Gen4 SSD).

• CVE-2024-38811 (CVSS 8.4): A malicious actor with local admin privileges on the host can escalate to root via a race condition in the USB driver.
• CVE-2024-38812 (CVSS 7.5): DoS vulnerability via specific Bluetooth packet sequences.

2. USB Arbitrations Fixes

Users running Linux hosts (especially with kernel 6.8+) reported USB passthrough issues where devices would disconnect during VM suspend/resume. This build patches the vmware-usbarbitrator service. I’ve tested with a USB 3.0 flash drive and an external SSD; both reconnected reliably after suspension.

1. Critical Security Hardening (VMSA-2024-0021)

The most important reason to upgrade to build 24319023 is security. This release patches several Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), including a high-severity arbitrary file write vulnerability in the virtual USB controller. If you are running legacy builds, a malicious VM could potentially break out of the sandbox to manipulate files on the host. VMware has rated the severity as "Important" and recommends an immediate upgrade.