CVE-2023-20867
Confirmed PUBLISHEDVMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
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.
- CVE Published
- Jun 13, 2023
- Exploitation Reported
- Jun 23, 2023
- CVSS
- 3.9 Low
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| VMware |
VMware Tools
|
12.2.5 |
Unaffected |
CVE References
- vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html vmware.com · CVE Record https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230725-0001 security.netapp.com · CVE Record https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230725-0001/
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00020.html lists.debian.org · CVE Record https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00020.html
- debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493 debian.org · CVE Record https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]... lists.fedoraproject.org · CVE Record https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists....
Show 4 more references
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]... lists.fedoraproject.org · CVE Record https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists....
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]... lists.fedoraproject.org · CVE Record https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists....
- OSS-Security Mailing List openwall.com · CVE Record http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/2
- OSS-Security Mailing List openwall.com · CVE Record http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/11
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2023-06-23 00:00 UTC |
No detection artifacts or sensor request patterns are available for this CVE yet.
Check back as sensor telemetry and scanner integrations are updated.
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2023-06-23 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Improper Authentication
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nessus | https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/236370 | Jun 02, 2025 |
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
09:26 UTC about 1 year ago09:26 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nessus plugin available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC about 3 years ago00:00 UTC · about 3 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
16:47 UTC about 3 years ago16:47 UTC · about 3 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
15:41 UTC over 3 years ago15:41 UTC · over 3 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2023-20867
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2023-20867",
"title": "VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability",
"affected_vendor": "VMware",
"affected_product": "VMware Tools",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 3.9,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}