Low 3.9Known exploited (CISA KEV)Published Jun 13, 2023

CVE-2023-20867VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Updated under an hour ago (Oct 27, 2026, 12:40 AM ET)

Does this affect you?

It affects VMware Tools and 2 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

CISA lists it as known exploited since Jun 23, 2023; federal agencies had to remediate by Jul 14, 2023. Treat that date as your deadline.

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Every CVE for VMware Tools

Exploited in the last 30 days

A fully compromised ESXi host can force VMware Tools to fail to authenticate host-to-guest operations, impacting the confidentiality and integrity of the guest virtual machine.

CVSS: 3.9 LOW (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness (CWE): CWE-287
Known exploited: Added to CISA KEV Jun 23, 2023; federal remediation due Jul 14, 2023Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 13.64% (percentile 96)
Assigned by: vmware
NVD analysis: Analyzed
Record last updated: Oct 21, 2025
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 9, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

VMware VMware Tools vmware:tools (from the name)	12.2.5 not affected	CNA record
vmware tools vmware:tools	from 10.3.0 before 12.2.5	NVD
debian debian_linux debian:debian_linux	10.0; 11.0; 12.0	NVD
fedoraproject fedora fedoraproject:fedora	37; 38; 39	NVD

References

References

https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0013.html	patch, vendor-advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230725-0001/	third-party-advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00020.html	mailing-list, third-party-advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493	mailing-list, third-party-advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZJM6HDRQYS74JA7YNKQBFH2XSZ52HEWH/	mailing-list, release-notes
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVKQ6Y2JFJRWPFOZUOTFO3H27BK5GGOG/	mailing-list, release-notes
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TJNJMD67QIT6LXLKWSHFM47DCLRSMT6W/	mailing-list, release-notes
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/2	mailing-list, patch
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/16/11	mailing-list, patch
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20867	us-government-resource

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.