CVE-2023-20887
Vmware Aria Operations for Networks Command Injection Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2023-20887 is a critical command injection vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Networks (formerly vRealize Network Insight) that enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction, making it trivially exploitable against any exposed instance of Aria Operations for Networks. With a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical) and an EPSS score of 94.4% (99th percentile), CVE-2023-20887 is among the most actively targeted vulnerabilities in the current threat landscape. CISA has added this command injection vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| vmware | aria operations for networks | >= 6.2.0, <= 6.10.0 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/173761/VMWare-Aria-Operations-For-Networks-Remote-Command-Execution.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0012.html(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20887(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-77 describes a weakness where user input is incorporated into commands executed by the application without proper neutralization of special elements that could modify the intended command structure. In CVE-2023-20887, VMware Aria Operations for Networks fails to properly sanitize input in certain request parameters, allowing an attacker to inject operating system commands that are executed with the privileges of the application process.
Learn more: CWE-77 — Command Injection
Impact Analysis
CVE-2023-20887 is rated Critical with a CVSS score of 9.8 under CVSS v3.1, reflecting the maximum practical severity for a vulnerability with unchanged scope. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network, making any internet-facing or network-accessible instance of Aria Operations for Networks a potential target. Attack Complexity (Low) means the exploit is reliable and does not depend on race conditions or specific system configurations. No authentication is required and no user interaction is needed, enabling fully automated exploitation. The impact spans all three security dimensions at the highest level: Confidentiality (High) means the attacker can access all data processed by the network analytics platform, including network topology, flow data, and configuration details. Integrity (High) enables modification of application data, network configurations, and potentially pivoting to other infrastructure components. Availability (High) means the attacker can disrupt the monitoring platform or use the compromised system for further attacks. The EPSS score of 94.4% places this in the 99th percentile, indicating near-certain exploitation activity.
Exploit Maturity
Public exploit code is available for CVE-2023-20887 via Packet Storm Security, providing threat actors with ready-to-use remote command execution capabilities. CISA has confirmed active exploitation in the wild by adding CVE-2023-20887 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of July 13, 2023. The EPSS score of 94.4% places this vulnerability in the 99th percentile, indicating near-certain exploitation activity and reflecting the combination of public exploit availability, unauthenticated remote access, and confirmed active campaigns. The availability of a public exploit combined with the trivial exploitation requirements makes CVE-2023-20887 a high-priority target for both opportunistic scanning and targeted attacks against organizations running VMware Aria Operations for Networks.
Remediation
- Apply VMware's security patches immediately as documented in VMware security advisory VMSA-2023-0012. Update VMware Aria Operations for Networks to the latest patched version to eliminate the command injection vulnerability.
- Restrict network access to Aria Operations for Networks management interfaces by implementing firewall rules that limit connectivity to authorized administrator IP addresses or management networks only. The application should never be directly exposed to the internet.
- Deploy network-level protections such as web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block command injection patterns in HTTP requests targeting the Aria Operations for Networks interface. Configure intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures for known CVE-2023-20887 exploit payloads.
- Review system and application logs on Aria Operations for Networks instances for indicators of compromise, including unusual process execution, unexpected outbound network connections, command injection patterns in web server access logs, and any signs of unauthorized access or data exfiltration.
- Implement input validation and output encoding as a long-term hardening measure for command execution pathways. Ensure that all user-controllable input is strictly validated against allowlists before being incorporated into system commands, and consider replacing direct command execution with safer API-based alternatives where possible.
Technical Details
CVE-2023-20887 is a command injection vulnerability (CWE-77) in VMware Aria Operations for Networks, a network monitoring and analytics platform. The vulnerability exists in the application's request processing logic, where user-supplied input is passed to operating system command execution functions without adequate neutralization of command-separator characters or other special elements. Attack Vector (Network) confirms the vulnerability is exploitable remotely via the application's network interface, and Attack Complexity (Low) indicates that no special conditions such as race timing or specific configurations are required. Privileges Required (None) and User Interaction (None) establish that the attack is fully unauthenticated and can be launched without any action from legitimate users, enabling automated mass exploitation. The injected commands execute in the context of the application's runtime process, which typically operates with elevated privileges sufficient to access sensitive network monitoring data, modify system configurations, and potentially pivot to other infrastructure components. The public availability of exploit code on Packet Storm Security confirms that the vulnerability is straightforward to weaponize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2023-20887 being actively exploited?
Yes, CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2023-20887 by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of July 13, 2023. Public exploit code is available on Packet Storm Security, and the EPSS score of 94.4% (99th percentile) indicates near-certain exploitation activity across the internet.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-20887?
CVE-2023-20887 affects VMware Aria Operations for Networks (formerly known as vRealize Network Insight). All versions of the product prior to VMware's patch release documented in VMSA-2023-0012 are vulnerable to the command injection attack.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20887?
Apply the security patches documented in VMware security advisory VMSA-2023-0012 immediately. As an interim measure, restrict network access to Aria Operations for Networks management interfaces to trusted IP addresses only and deploy WAF rules to detect command injection attempts.
How severe is CVE-2023-20887?
CVE-2023-20887 is rated Critical with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10. It allows unauthenticated remote command execution with no user interaction required. The availability of public exploit code and an EPSS score in the 99th percentile make this one of the most dangerous and actively exploited vulnerabilities in the current landscape.
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