1. Introduction
VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard Inactive means a security solution is installed on your systems but isn’t actively running. This leaves those systems unprotected against malware and other threats, increasing the risk of compromise. It typically affects Windows, macOS, and Linux servers and workstations where Carbon Black has been deployed. A lack of active protection could lead to data breaches, system downtime, or regulatory non-compliance.
2. Technical Explanation
- Root cause: Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard services are stopped or failed to start.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker uploads a malicious file via email attachment, network share, or drive-by download. Without active protection, the malware executes directly on the system.
- Scope: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, and various Linux distributions with Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard installed are affected.
3. Detection and Assessment
You can confirm if a system is vulnerable by checking the service status and reviewing logs. A quick check will show whether the core services are running, while thorough methods involve examining event logs for errors related to Carbon Black.
- Quick checks: Use Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) to see if ‘Carbon Black’ processes are running. On Linux, use `systemctl status carbon-black`
- Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 168597 may identify this issue as a potential vulnerability. This is an example only and should be verified.
- Logs and evidence: Check the Windows Event Viewer for Carbon Black related errors under Applications and Services Logs > VMware > CB Defense. On Linux, look at `/var/log/carbon-black` for error messages.
systemctl status carbon-black4. Solution / Remediation Steps
The solution is to ensure the associated Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard services are running. Follow these steps carefully to avoid disrupting other system functions.
4.1 Preparation
- Dependencies: Ensure the machine has network connectivity to the Carbon Black Cloud servers. Roll back plan: If restarting fails, investigate resource constraints and consider reinstalling the agent.
- Change window needs: A standard maintenance window may be required for a full restart. Approval from the IT security team is recommended.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS).
- Step 2: If Carbon Black services are stopped, right-click and select ‘Start’.
- Step 3: On Linux, run `sudo systemctl start carbon-black`.
- Step 4: Verify the services are running using the quick check method.
4.3 Config or Code Example
Before
systemctl status carbon-black
● carbon-black.service - VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/carbon-black.service; disabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: inactive (dead)After
systemctl status carbon-black
● carbon-black.service - VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/carbon-black.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since ...4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
Several security practices can help prevent this issue and similar endpoint protection failures. Least privilege reduces the impact of a successful attack, while regular patch cadence ensures you have the latest fixes.
- Practice 1: Implement least privilege principles to limit the damage if malware bypasses initial defenses.
- Practice 2: Establish a regular patch cadence for all endpoint security software to address known vulnerabilities quickly.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
# PowerShell example to restart Carbon Black service on multiple machines
$computers = @("computer1", "computer2") # Replace with your computer names
foreach ($computer in $computers) {
Invoke-Command -ComputerName $computer -ScriptBlock {
try {
Restart-Service -Name "CarbonBlack" -Force
Write-Host "Successfully restarted Carbon Black on $env:COMPUTERNAME"
} catch {
Write-Host "Failed to restart Carbon Black on $env:COMPUTERNAME: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}
}
}5. Verification / Validation
Confirm the fix by checking that the services are running and re-running the initial detection methods. A simple smoke test will verify core functionality remains intact.
- Post-fix check: Run `systemctl status carbon-black` (Linux) or check Task Manager/Activity Monitor (Windows/macOS). Expected output should show ‘active (running)’ for the service.
- Re-test: Re-run the quick check method described in Section 3 to confirm Carbon Black processes are now running.
- Smoke test: Verify that you can successfully run a scan with Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard.
- Monitoring: Monitor the Windows Event Viewer or `/var/log/carbon-black` for any new errors related to Carbon Black services.
systemctl status carbon-black6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Update security baselines and implement checks in your CI/CD pipelines to prevent this issue from recurring. A sensible patch review cycle is also crucial.
- Baselines: Update your system baseline or group policy to ensure Carbon Black services are configured to start automatically.
- Asset and patch process: Implement a monthly review cycle for endpoint security software patches and configurations.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
Restarting the service could temporarily disrupt endpoint protection. If issues occur, roll back by restoring from your backup or snapshot.
- Risk or side effect 1: Temporary interruption of endpoint protection during service restart.
- Risk or side effect 2: Potential for conflicts with other security software if services are not restarted in the correct order.
- Roll back: 1) Stop the Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard service. 2) Restore from your pre-change backup or snapshot.
8. References and Resources
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: https://www.carbonblack.com/products/endpoint-standard/
- NVD or CVE entry: Not applicable for this specific inactive state issue.
- Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: Updated on October 26, 2025