CVE-2023-34048
Memory Safety in Vmware Vcenter Server 4.0 – 5.5
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-2023-34048 is a critical-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Vmware Vcenter Server. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Security Account Manager (T1003.002); ranked in the top 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities 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.
vCenter Server contains an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in its DCERPC protocol implementation. The flaw is tracked as CVE-2023-34048 and carries a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting network-accessible attack complexity that requires no authentication or user interaction.
A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server can trigger the out-of-bounds write to achieve remote code execution on the affected system. The vulnerability is also catalogued under CWE-787.
VMware has published advisory VMSA-2023-0023 detailing the issue, and CISA lists CVE-2023-34048 in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The associated EPSS score has remained at a peak of 0.9321 since disclosure, indicating sustained exploitation interest.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-38166
Vulnerability Data
vCenter Server contains an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger an out-of-bounds write potentially leading to remote code execution.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 22 January 2024
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
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.
Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.
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.
Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.
Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.
Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.
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.