CVE-2023-20878
Published: 12 May 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-20878 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Vmware Vrealize Operations. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 9.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
VMware Aria Operations is affected by a deserialization vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-20878 and assigned CWE-502. The flaw permits remote code execution when untrusted data is deserialized without adequate validation, carrying a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, and high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
An attacker must already possess administrative privileges to supply the malicious serialized payload. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary command execution on the affected system and can fully disrupt its operation. The EPSS score remains flat at 0.0555 with no material increase after disclosure.
The official advisory VMSA-2023-0009 published by VMware addresses the issue and is available at the reference URL provided.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-25050
Vulnerability details
VMware Aria Operations contains a deserialization vulnerability. A malicious actor with administrative privileges can execute arbitrary commands and disrupt the system.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
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.
Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.
Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.
Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.
Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.
Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.
Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.
Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.