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Full vulnerability report · 2022
CVE-2022-22948High confidence

VMware vCenter Server Incorrect Default File Permissions Vulnerability

VMware · vCenter Server

6.5MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2024-08-07 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Critical, raised 2 bands.upgradedsince 17 Jul 2024

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • EPSS is 13.28% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs VMware vCenter Server and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2022-28072

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

The vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability due to improper permission of files. A malicious actor with non-administrative access to the vCenter Server may exploit this issue to gain access to sensitive information.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 17 Jul 2024. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
6.5 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
1 linked advisory record
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2024-08-07 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

VMware vCenter Server contains an incorrect default file permissions vulnerability that allows a remote, privileged attacker to gain access to sensitive information.

What

VMware vCenter Server contains an incorrect default file permissions vulnerability that allows a remote, privileged attacker to gain access to sensitive information.

Why

During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may obtain information outside the intended access boundary.

What

VMware vCenter Server contains an incorrect default file permissions vulnerability that allows a remote, privileged attacker to gain access to sensitive information.

Why

During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may obtain information outside the intended access boundary.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2024-07-17.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
a network path → Incorrect Default Permissions → obtain information outside the intended access boundary
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-276 ↗

CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions. During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.ANoneAvailability impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
NetworkCWE-276CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2022-28072Known-exploited evidence recorded

The vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability due to improper permission of files. A malicious actor with non-administrative access to the vCenter Server may exploit this issue to gain access to sensitive information.

Official EUVD record ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-1449VMware vCenter Server und VMware Cloud Foundation: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Offenlegung von Informationen

Ein lokaler Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in VMware vCenter Server und VMware Cloud Foundation ausnutzen, um Informationen offenzulegen.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20220330Security Bulletin 30 Mar 2022

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 30 Mar 2022, published on 30 March 2022. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2022-AVI-287Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits VMware

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits VMware. Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une atteinte à la confidentialité des données, une atteinte à l'intégrité des données et un déni de service à distance.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2022-009346vCenter Server における不適切なデフォルトパーミッションに関する脆弱性

vCenter Server には、不適切なデフォルトパーミッションに関する脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6243美 CISA 발표 주요 Exploit 정보공유(Update. 2024-07-17)

VMware vCenter Server contains an incorrect default file permissions vulnerability that allows a remote, privileged attacker to gain access to sensitive information.

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation: VMware vCenter Server (7.0 prior to 7.0 U3d, 6.7 prior to 6.7 U3p and 6.5 prior to 6.5 U3r) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x and 3.x prior to 3.11)
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 29 Mar 2022 · Last source change 21 Oct 2025, 23:15 UTC · CWE-276 · Incorrect Default Permissions

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2022-28072
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCISA ADP
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    VMware vCenter Server (7.0 prior to 7.0 U3d, 6.7 prior to 6.7 U3p and 6.5 prior to 6.5 U3r) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x and 3.x prior to 3.11) · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    After
    VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation: VMware vCenter Server (7.0 prior to 7.0 U3d, 6.7 prior to 6.7 U3p and 6.5 prior to 6.5 U3r) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x and 3.x prior to 3.11) · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Added to CISA KEV
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2022-28072↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2022-22948 · cve.blacktree.nl