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Full vulnerability report · 2023
CVE-2023-20867High confidence

VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

VMware · Tools

3.9LowCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2023-07-14 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityLowOperational priority:Critical, raised 3 bands.upgradedsince 23 Jun 2023

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
  • EPSS is 13.53% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs VMware Tools 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.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Alpine, Debian findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

7 package states
Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Alpine v3.23v3.23 · communityopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.12.2.5-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 11 Sep 2026
Alpine v3.22v3.22 · communityopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.12.2.5-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 11 Sep 2026
Alpine v3.21v3.21 · communityopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.12.2.5-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 19 Aug 2026
Debian trixietrixie · sourceopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:12.2.5-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourceopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:12.2.0-1+deb12u1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourceopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:12.2.5-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourceopen-vm-toolsVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:12.2.5-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
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-2023-25040

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

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.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 23 Jun 2023. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
3.9 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
15 linked advisory records
Explicit mitigation evidence

Only statements that explicitly mention a fix, patch, update, workaround or mitigation are shown here.

  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3947Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security update
  • csaf_suse · SUSE-SU-2023:2604-2Security update for open-vm-tools
  • csaf_suse · SUSE-SU-2023:2604-1Security update for open-vm-tools
  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3945Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security update
  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3948Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security update
  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3950Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security update
  • csaf_suse · SUSE-SU-2023:3504-1Security update for open-vm-tools
  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3944Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security and bug fix update
  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3946Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security update
  • csaf_suse · SUSE-SU-2023:2530-1Security update for open-vm-tools
  • csaf_redhat · RHSA-2023:3949Red Hat Security Advisory: open-vm-tools security update
  • csaf_suse · SUSE-SU-2023:3505-1Security update for open-vm-tools
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2023-07-14 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

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.

What

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.

Why

The affected component does not establish the requesting party's identity reliably before granting access.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with elevated privileges. If successful, the issue may bypass an access boundary or take over an account.

What

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.

Why

The affected component does not establish the requesting party's identity reliably before granting access.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with elevated privileges. If successful, the issue may bypass an access boundary or take over an account.

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 2023-06-23.

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
local access → Improper Authentication → bypass an access boundary or take over an account
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
High: elevated access is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
Security boundary
Changed: exploitation can affect a different security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-287 ↗

CWE-287: Improper Authentication. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

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

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

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRHighPrivileges required: The attacker needs elevated or administrative privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SChangedScope: The attack can affect a component governed by a different security authority.CLowConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.ILowIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.ANoneAvailability impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
CWE-287CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

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

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-25040Known-exploited evidence recorded

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.

Official EUVD record ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-2625IBM QRadar SIEM: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein entfernter, anonymer, authentisierter oder lokaler Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM QRadar SIEM ausnutzen, um beliebigen Code auszuführen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand herbeizuführen und einen Cross-Site-Scripting-Angriff durchzuführen.

Official advisory ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-1456VMware Tools: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Umgehen von Sicherheitsvorkehrungen

Ein lokaler Angreifer auf dem verwendeten Hypervisor kann eine Schwachstelle in VMware Tools von Gastsystemen ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20230614Security Bulletin 14 Jun 2023

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 14 Jun 2023, published on 14 June 2023. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2023-AVI-0839Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM

CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-25147 Référence CVE CVE-2022-3564 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-3564 Référence CVE CVE-2022-37434 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-37434 Référence CVE CVE-2022-40609 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-40609 Référence CVE CVE-2022-42703 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-42703 Référence CVE CVE-2022-4378 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-4378 Référence CVE CVE-2022-48339 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-48339 Référence CVE CVE-2023-0286 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-0286 Référence CVE CVE-2023-0767 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-0767 Référence CVE CVE-2023-20867 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20867 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21830 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21830 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21843 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21843 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21930 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21930 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21937 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21937 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21938 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21938 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21939 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21939 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21954 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21954 Référence CVE CVE-2023-21967 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2023-AVI-0457Vulnérabilité dans VMware Tools

Une vulnérabilité a été découverte dans VMware Tools. Elle permet à un attaquant de provoquer un contournement de la politique de sécurité.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2023-022755VMware の VMware Tools における認証に関する脆弱性

VMware の VMware Tools には、認証に関する脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5942현재 악용되고 있는 Exploit(Update. 2023-06-23)

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.

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5938VMware 제품 보안 업데이트 권고

VMware Tools에서 발생하는 인증 우회 취약점 (CVE-2023-20867) [1]

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
See the vendor and CVE records for the affected range.
Fixed
VMware Tools: 12.2.5
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 13 Jun 2023 · Last source change 21 Oct 2025, 23:05 UTC · CWE-287 · Improper Authentication

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceCNA
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-2023-25040
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched

Missing structured fields: affected versions. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    See the vendor and CVE records for the affected range. · Fixed: 12.2.5
    After
    See the vendor and CVE records for the affected range. · Fixed: VMware Tools: 12.2.5
    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-2023-25040↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Patch or update reference↗Patch or update 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-2023-20867 · cve.blacktree.nl