Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
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, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Adversary-in-the-Middle (T1557); ranked in the top 0.8% 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…
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for Networks CLI.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 6 hardening rules · 6 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.
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 (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.
PR.DS-01 promotes encryption for data-at-rest but never requires strong algorithms, leaving CWE-327 fully possible; the weakness is also far broader than data-at-rest so one narrow control removes none of its total risk.
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.
Mandating approved algorithms, cipher strength and usage standards directly stops the selection of broken or weak cryptographic primitives that attackers can exploit.
The explicit call-out of cryptography-related legal constraints (import/export, key escrow, digital-signature validity) reduces the likelihood that an organization will adopt broken or non-compliant cryptographic algorithms that violate those rules.
Access to current specialist guidance and early vulnerability alerts enables timely replacement of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms with stronger alternatives.
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` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
- V-248524 OL 8 must implement NIST FIPS-validated cryptography for the following: To provision digital signatures, to generate cryptographic hashes, and to protect data requiring data-at-rest protections in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, and standards. prevents CWE-327
Windows 10 (1 rule)
- V-220937 The system must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows 11 (1 rule)
- V-253461 The system must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows Server 2016 (1 rule)
- V-225053 Windows Server 2016 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows Server 2019 (1 rule)
- V-205654 Windows Server 2019 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows Server 2022 (1 rule)
- V-254474 Windows Server 2022 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327