The vCenter Tomcat Management Application in VMware vCenter Server 4.1 before Update 1 stores log-on credentials in a configuration file, which allows local users to gain privileges by reading this file.
http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/doc/vsp_vc41_u1_rel_notes.html
http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0003.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/516397/100/0/threaded
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8079