CVE-2023-20867: VMware Tools · Improper Authentication
Affects VMware ToolsSource CVE Database V5
Exploited in the wild · KEV due 14 Jul 2023 · 13% EPSS : apply the vendor's fix or mitigations to VMware Tools now.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC
- KEV deadline
- US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else.
- EPSS
- 13.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 96% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:NExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Jun 2023
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV 10 days after disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by vmware
, 224 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
, 10 days after disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
, 31 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Description
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.
References
- vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html (opens in a new tab)
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230725-0001/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00020.html (opens in a new tab)
- debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZJM6HDRQYS74JA7YNKQBFH2XSZ52HEWH/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVKQ6Y2JFJRWPFOZUOTFO3H27BK5GGOG/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TJNJMD67QIT6LXLKWSHFM47DCLRSMT6W/ (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/2 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/11 (opens in a new tab)
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20867 (opens in a new tab)