CVE-2023-20867 VMware Tools: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Jul 14, 2023
What to do
- Install VMware's security update for Tools. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
- Product
- VMware Tools
- CISA description
- VMware Tools contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the vgauth module. A fully compromised ESXi host can force VMware Tools to fail to authenticate host-to-guest operations, impacting the confidentiality and integrity of the guest virtual machine. An attacker must have root access over ESXi to exploit this vulnerability.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-287)
- Confirmed exploited
- Jun 23, 2023
- US federal patch deadline
- Jul 14, 2023
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Answering about CVE-2023-20867 ·
Questions about CVE-2023-20867
Is CVE-2023-20867 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2023-20867 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jun 23, 2023, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20867?
Install VMware's security update for Tools. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2023-20867?
Only if you use VMware Tools. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.