Overview
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.
https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20867
Key Details
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2023-20867 |
| Vendor / Product | VMware — Tools |
| NVD Published | 2023-06-13 |
| NVD Last Modified | 2025-10-28 |
| CVSS 3.1 Score | 3.9 |
| CVSS 3.1 Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N |
| Severity | LOW |
| CWE | CWE-287 |
| CISA KEV Added | 2023-06-23 |
| CISA KEV Deadline | 2023-07-14 |
| Known Ransomware Use | No |
CVSS 3.1 Breakdown
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None
Required Action
CISA BOD 22-01 Deadline: 2023-07-14.
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-23 | Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog |
| 2023-07-14 | CISA BOD 22-01 remediation deadline |
References
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
| NVD — CVE-2023-20867 | Vulnerability Database |
| CISA KEV Catalog Entry | US Government |