CVE-2023-20867 : A fully compromised ESXi host can force VMware Tools to fail to authenticate hos

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.

Published 2023-06-13 17:15:14

Updated 2025-03-10 20:43:28

Source VMware

View at NVD, CVE.org

Products affected by CVE-2023-20867

Debian » Debian Linux » Version: 10.0
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Debian » Debian Linux » Version: 11.0
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Debian » Debian Linux » Version: 12.0
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Vmware » Tools
Versions from including (>=) 10.3.0 and before (<) 12.2.5
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Fedoraproject » Fedora » Version: 37
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Fedoraproject » Fedora » Version: 38
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Fedoraproject » Fedora » Version: 39
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions

CVE-2023-20867 is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

CISA vulnerability name:

VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CISA required action:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA description:

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 E

Notes:

https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20867

Added on 2023-06-23 Action due date 2023-07-14

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-20867

EPSS FAQ

0.53%

Probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days EPSS Score History

~ 66 %

Percentile, the proportion of vulnerabilities that are scored at or less

CVSS scores for CVE-2023-20867

Base Score	Base Severity	CVSS Vector	Exploitability Score	Impact Score	Score Source
3.9	LOW	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N	0.8	2.7	NIST
Attack Vector: Local Attack Complexity: High Privileges Required: High User Interaction: None Scope: Changed Confidentiality: Low Integrity: Low Availability: None
3.9	LOW	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N	0.8	2.7	VMware
Attack Vector: Local Attack Complexity: High Privileges Required: High User Interaction: None Scope: Changed Confidentiality: Low Integrity: Low Availability: None

CWE ids for CVE-2023-20867

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.
Assigned by:
- nvd@nist.gov (Primary)
- security@vmware.com (Secondary)

References for CVE-2023-20867

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/11

oss-security - Re: CVE-2023-20867: open-vm-tools: Authentication Bypass vulnerability in the vgauth module
Mailing List;Patch
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00020.html

[SECURITY] [DLA 3531-1] open-vm-tools security update
Mailing List;Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TJNJMD67QIT6LXLKWSHFM47DCLRSMT6W/

[SECURITY] Fedora 37 Update: open-vm-tools-12.3.0-1.fc37 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
Mailing List;Release Notes

CVEs referencing this url
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVKQ6Y2JFJRWPFOZUOTFO3H27BK5GGOG/

[SECURITY] Fedora 39 Update: open-vm-tools-12.3.0-1.fc39 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
Mailing List;Release Notes

CVEs referencing this url
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/2

oss-security - CVE-2023-20867: open-vm-tools: Authentication Bypass vulnerability in the vgauth module
Mailing List;Patch
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230725-0001/

CVE-2023-20867 VMware Tools Vulnerability in NetApp Products | NetApp Product Security
Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZJM6HDRQYS74JA7YNKQBFH2XSZ52HEWH/

[SECURITY] Fedora 38 Update: open-vm-tools-12.3.0-1.fc38 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
Mailing List;Release Notes

CVEs referencing this url
https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493

Debian -- Security Information -- DSA-5493-1 open-vm-tools
Mailing List;Third Party Advisory

CVEs referencing this url
https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html

VMSA-2023-0013
Patch;Vendor Advisory