CVE-2023-20867

VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CVSS 3.1 Low 3.9Known exploited (CISA KEV)

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

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.

Key data

CVSS 3.1 Low 3.9

Score published by vmware in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Attack vector: Local
The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity: High
The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required: High
An account with significant privileges, such as an administrator, is needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: Low
Limited effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: Low
Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: None
No effect on availability.

Metric	Value	What it means
Attack vector	Local	The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity	High	The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required	High	An account with significant privileges, such as an administrator, is needed.
User interaction	None	No action from any user is needed.
Scope	Changed	The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact	Low	Limited effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact	Low	Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact	None	No effect on availability.

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.

EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score: 0.13638 (13.6% probability)
Percentile: 96.5%
Scores of: Nov 10, 2026
Model: v2026.06.15

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog: VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Added to the catalog: Jun 23, 2023
Federal due date: Jul 14, 2023

CISA assessment as of Feb 4, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation: Recorded by CISA as active
Automatable: no
Technical impact: partial

Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE-287Improper Authentication

Products listed as not affected

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

VMware Tools

References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

Timeline

ID reservedNov 1, 2022
Record publishedJun 13, 2023
Added to CISA KEVJun 23, 2023
Record last updatedOct 21, 2025

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About CubePath

CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection.

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Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:51 UTC. Sources and licenses