CVE-2023-20854

Arbitrary file deletion by local users

Published Feb 3, 2023 · Updated Mar 26, 2025

Arbitrary file deletion in VMware Workstation 17.x before 17.0.1 allows local users to delete files on the Windows host. VMware has not disclosed the affected component or how attacker-controlled input reaches the file-deletion operation. Exploitation requires local user privileges, and the documented consequence is deletion of arbitrary host files rather than remote access or guest escape.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file deletion in VMware Workstation 17.x before 17.0.1 allows local users to delete files on the Windows host. VMware has not disclosed the affected component or how attacker-controlled input reaches the file-deletion operation. Exploitation requires local user privileges, and the documented consequence is deletion of arbitrary host files rather than remote access or guest escape.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20854
Published
Feb 3, 2023
Updated
Mar 26, 2025
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware Workstation
Classifications
CWE-269, T1070.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 26, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=VMware Workstation (17.x prior to 17.0.1)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware Workstationversion=VMware Workstation (17.x prior to 17.0.1)

Published CVSS scores

8.4NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H
7.8VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1070.004File Deletion

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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