CVE-2023-20857Public exploit

Protected-file decryption via passcode-independent keys

Published Feb 28, 2023 · Updated Mar 10, 2025

Authentication bypass in VMware Workspace ONE Content for Android before 23.02 allows attackers with root access to decrypt protected files. The passcode neither participates in file-key derivation nor receives backend validation, while a private key remains in the app container. Physical access to a rooted Android device permits process hooking or passcode-state manipulation that exposes stored enterprise content without the configured passcode.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.92%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in VMware Workspace ONE Content for Android before 23.02 allows attackers with root access to decrypt protected files. The passcode neither participates in file-key derivation nor receives backend validation, while a private key remains in the app container. Physical access to a rooted Android device permits process hooking or passcode-state manipulation that exposes stored enterprise content without the configured passcode.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20857
Published
Feb 28, 2023
Updated
Mar 10, 2025
Vendor
VMware
Product
Workspace ONE Content
Classifications
CWE-306, T1409
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 28, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 10, 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 Workspace ONE Content for Android prior to 23.02

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

VMware · Workspace ONE Contentversion=VMware Workspace ONE Content for Android prior to 23.02

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
T1409Stored Application Data

Public exploit references

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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