CVE-2022-22948
Vmware Vcenter Server 6.5 … 7.0
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:NCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2022-22948 is a medium-severity Incorrect Default Permissions (CWE-276) vulnerability in Vmware Vcenter Server. Its CVSS base score is 6.5 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Services File Permissions Weakness (T1574.010); ranked in the top 4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
The vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability due to improper permission of files. This affects VMware vCenter Server and is tracked as CVE-2022-22948 with a CVSS score of 6.5 under CWE-276.
A malicious actor with non-administrative network access to the vCenter Server may exploit the flaw to obtain sensitive information without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability allows low-privileged attackers to read files that should be restricted to administrative users.
VMware published advisory VMSA-2022-0009 to address the issue, and the CVE appears in CISA's catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities. The EPSS score rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.4933, indicating that exploitation interest increased after public disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-28072
Vulnerability Data
The vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability due to improper permission of files. A malicious actor with non-administrative access to the vCenter Server may exploit this issue to gain access to sensitive information.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 17 July 2024
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 7 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
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Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Access control policy can specify and enforce secure default permissions for resources.
Guides setting of default permissions to the minimum required level.
Establishes requirements for appropriate default permissions on system resources as part of configuration management.
Baseline establishment and updates on install/upgrade ensure correct default permissions rather than insecure ones.
Requiring the most restrictive settings instead of defaults prevents incorrect default permissions on resources.
Requires documented processes that include setting and maintaining correct default permissions for configuration items.
Requires addressing secure default permissions in physical and environmental protection controls.
Tailoring explicitly overrides or scopes default permission assignments in the baseline to match the system's actual risk and operational needs.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Lifecycle management can encompass permission settings, yet the control is too broad to specifically mitigate incorrect defaults.
Defining and enforcing least-privilege access permissions directly prevents overly permissive defaults at install time.
Hardened baselines and configuration management explicitly require correct default file permissions.
Secure SDLC practices include establishing secure defaults, but address only the development-phase portion of the weakness.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (higher-evidence rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Windows Server 2016 (2 rules)
- V-224833 Permissions for program file directories must conform to minimum requirements. blocks CWE-276
- V-224834 Permissions for the Windows installation directory must conform to minimum requirements. blocks CWE-276
Windows Server 2019 (2 rules)
- V-205735 Windows Server 2019 permissions for program file directories must conform to minimum requirements. blocks CWE-276
- V-205736 Windows Server 2019 permissions for the Windows installation directory must conform to minimum requirements. blocks CWE-276