CVE-2023-20867
VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
VMware Tools
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.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 23 June 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 14 July 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 13.6%, which is higher than 96.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-20867 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2023-20867.
What does CVE-2023-20867 affect?
CVE-2023-20867 affects VMware Tools. 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.
How severe is CVE-2023-20867?
CVE-2023-20867 is rated LOW with a CVSS base score of 3.9. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 13.6%, higher than 96.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 14 July 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-20867?
Apply the vendor patch for VMware Tools as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.