Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2023-34039 is a critical-severity Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm (CWE-327) vulnerability in Vmware Aria Operations For Networks. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 0.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2023-34039 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Networks stemming from a lack of unique cryptographic key generation. The flaw is tracked under CWE-327 and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting network-accessible attack vectors that require no credentials or user interaction.
An attacker with network access to the affected product can exploit the shared or predictable keys to bypass SSH authentication and obtain direct access to the management CLI. Public proof-of-concept material on PacketStorm demonstrates both SSH private-key exposure and subsequent remote code execution paths that leverage this access.
VMware published advisory VMSA-2023-0018 to document the issue and coordinate remediation. The associated EPSS score has remained consistently high, reaching a peak of 0.9588 and currently sitting at 0.9317, indicating sustained exploitation interest since disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-38160
Vulnerability Data
Aria Operations for Networks contains an Authentication Bypass vulnerability due to a lack of unique cryptographic key generation. A malicious actor with network access to Aria Operations for Networks could bypass SSH authentication to gain access to the Aria Operations…
more
for Networks CLI.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
CVEs Like This One
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.
Contacts with security groups provide timely information on broken or risky cryptographic algorithms, reducing the likelihood of their selection and use.
Ongoing education and sharing of recommended practices helps organizations identify and migrate away from broken or risky cryptographic algorithms.
Cross-organization threat feeds commonly include advances in cryptanalysis and active exploits against weak or broken algorithms, allowing organizations to deprecate them proactively.
Capital planning and funding allow selection and ongoing support of strong cryptographic algorithms rather than weak or broken ones.
Risk updates surface newly-broken or risky cryptographic algorithms as threat intelligence and computing advances evolve, enabling timely replacement.
Scanners flag use of broken or weak cryptographic algorithms via known-vulnerability databases.
Enforces approved cryptographic algorithms for each use case, blocking use of broken or risky algorithms.
Flaw remediation replaces broken or risky cryptographic algorithms once safer implementations are released by vendors.
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.
A.5.31 only requires identifying, reviewing and considering legal/regulatory/contractual requirements (including crypto restrictions); it does not itself stop use of a broken algorithm or block its exploitation
A.5.6 only promotes membership in groups to receive early warnings, advisories, and specialist advice about vulnerabilities (including risky crypto); it does not stop exploitation of an already-present broken algorithm, which requires other controls (e.g. A.8.24) to act.
A.8.24's policy, algorithm selection, strength/quality rules, approved standards and key management directly stop use of broken/risky algorithms in most cases; the bounded remainder is non-compliant implementations or legacy systems grandfathered under the clause's own regulatory and transition guidance.
Hardening callouts derived
DISA STIG baselines are authored against specific weaknesses. Where this CVE cites a broad weakness class, the mapping is not asserted at that abstraction (owner ruling, 2026-09-25: grade only at Base and below), so no rule is shown here rather than a rule shown against the wrong grain.