Authentication bypass by capture-replay in VMware Tools
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
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | VMware Tools | 12.x.x; 11.x.x; 10.3.x | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | VMware Tools | 10.3.x | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | VMware Tools (open-vm-tools) | 12.x.x; 11.x.x; 10.3.x | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- 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
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.3.0 to before 12.3.0 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.3.0 to before 10.3.26 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:open_vm_tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.3.0 to before 12.3.0 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 37 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 38 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 39 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- 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
Remediation
Red Hat 9 advisories
- RHSA-2024:5315 Released 2024-08-13 · Red Hat rating Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 Importantopen-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 →
| Product | Status | Plan 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
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-20900
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-h7h7-f9wh-xhj8
- 2026-10-08 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 2
Advisory 3
Other 4
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/ZJM6HDRQYS74JA7YNKQBFH2XSZ52HEWH/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/NVKQ6Y2JFJRWPFOZUOTFO3H27BK5GGOG/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/TJNJMD67QIT6LXLKWSHFM47DCLRSMT6W/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/10/msg00000.html
Sources
- CVE-2023-20900 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-20900 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-h7h7-f9wh-xhj8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-20900 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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