Read the docs
TI-2023-07316 Aliases CVE-2023-20900GHSA-h7h7-f9wh-xhj8

Authentication bypass by capture-replay in VMware Tools

Priority LOW 38CWE-294Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Adjacent network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-294.

Summary

A malicious actor that has been granted Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html  in a target virtual machine may be able to elevate their privileges if that target virtual machine has been assigned a more privileged Guest Alias https://vdc-download.vmware.com/vmwb-repository/dcr-public/d1902b0e-d479-46bf-8ac9-cee0e31e8ec0/07ce8dbd-db48-4261-9b8f-c6d3ad8ba472/vim.vm.guest.AliasManager.html .

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01475 73rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 9 advisories

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—VMware Tools12.x.x; 11.x.x; 10.3.x—No fix listedCNA
—VMware Tools10.3.x—No fix listedCNA
—VMware Tools (open-vm-tools)12.x.x; 11.x.x; 10.3.x—No fix listedCNA
  • VMware Tools Vendor— Affected 12.x.x; 11.x.x; 10.3.x Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
  • VMware Tools Vendor— Affected 10.3.x Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
  • VMware Tools (open-vm-tools) Vendor— Affected 12.x.x; 11.x.x; 10.3.x Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 12

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.3.0 to before 12.3.0VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onMicrosoft
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.3.0 to before 10.3.26VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onLinux
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:open_vm_tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.3.0 to before 12.3.0VulnerableVMware
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*37VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*38VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*39VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*11.0VulnerableDebian
  • cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.3.0 to before 12.3.0 Vulnerable ·VMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.3.0 to before 10.3.26 Vulnerable ·VMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Linux
  • cpe:2.3:a:vmware:open_vm_tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.3.0 to before 12.3.0 Vulnerable ·VMware
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 37 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 39 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Show 2 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*12.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableNetApp
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp

Remediation

Red Hat 9 advisories

  • RHSA-2024:5315 Released 2024-08-13 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.7) open-vm-tools-10.3.0-2.el7_7.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-10.3.0-2.el7_7.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.7) open-vm-tools-devel-10.3.0-2.el7_7.3, open-vm-tools-test-10.3.0-2.el7_7.3
  • RHSA-2023:5313 Released 2023-09-20 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) open-vm-tools-12.1.5-1.el9_2.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-12.1.5-1.el9_2.3, open-vm-tools-salt-minion-12.1.5-1.el9_2.3 +2
  • RHSA-2023:5312 Released 2023-09-20 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) open-vm-tools-12.1.5-2.el8_8.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-12.1.5-2.el8_8.3, open-vm-tools-salt-minion-12.1.5-2.el8_8.3 +1
Show 6 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2023:5217 Released 2023-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) open-vm-tools-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) open-vm-tools-devel-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-test-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) open-vm-tools-devel-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-test-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) open-vm-tools-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) open-vm-tools-devel-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-test-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) open-vm-tools-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) open-vm-tools-devel-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7, open-vm-tools-test-11.0.5-3.el7_9.7
  • RHSA-2023:5218 Released 2023-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) open-vm-tools-11.3.5-1.el9_0.4, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.3.5-1.el9_0.4, open-vm-tools-sdmp-11.3.5-1.el9_0.4 +1
  • RHSA-2023:5220 Released 2023-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) open-vm-tools-11.3.5-1.el8_6.4, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.3.5-1.el8_6.4, open-vm-tools-sdmp-11.3.5-1.el8_6.4
  • RHSA-2023:5216 Released 2023-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) open-vm-tools-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3, open-vm-tools-sdmp-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4) open-vm-tools-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3, open-vm-tools-sdmp-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4) open-vm-tools-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3, open-vm-tools-sdmp-11.2.0-2.el8_4.3
  • RHSA-2023:5210 Released 2023-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) open-vm-tools-11.0.0-4.el8_2.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.0.0-4.el8_2.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.2) open-vm-tools-11.0.0-4.el8_2.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.0.0-4.el8_2.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v. 8.2) open-vm-tools-11.0.0-4.el8_2.3, open-vm-tools-desktop-11.0.0-4.el8_2.3
  • RHSA-2023:5213 Released 2023-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    open-vm-tools security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1) open-vm-tools-10.3.10-3.el8_1.4, open-vm-tools-desktop-10.3.10-3.el8_1.4

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:5312
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2023:5313
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:5210
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:5216
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1)Fixed RHSA-2023:5213
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:5210
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:5216
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2023:5220
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0)Fixed RHSA-2023:5218
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:5210
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:5216
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.7)Fixed RHSA-2024:5315
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.7)Fixed RHSA-2024:5315
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:5217

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-20900
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-h7h7-f9wh-xhj8
  3. 2026-10-08 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

Sources