Unauthenticated root command execution via unsanitized nodeId
Published Jun 7, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
OS command injection in VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.2.0 through 6.10.0 allows remote attackers to execute commands as root. The createSupportBundle handler passes its nodeId field unsanitized into a shell command after an nginx rewrite exposes its local Thrift endpoint. Network access to the appliance HTTPS service is sufficient; successful exploitation grants root control over the appliance.
Summary
What happened
OS command injection in VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.2.0 through 6.10.0 allows remote attackers to execute commands as root. The createSupportBundle handler passes its nodeId field unsanitized into a shell command after an nginx rewrite exposes its local Thrift endpoint. Network access to the appliance HTTPS service is sufficient; successful exploitation grants root control over the appliance.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-20887
- Published
- Jun 7, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- VMware
- Product
- VCF Operations for Networks
- Classifications
- CWE-78, T1190, T1059.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 22, 2023Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=Aria Operations for Networks (Formerly vRealize Network Insight) 6.x
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
View daily counts
| Reporting day | Unique IPs |
|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2026 | 5 |
| Sep 11, 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 13, 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 14, 2026 | Unavailable |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Unavailable |
| Sep 16, 2026 | Unavailable |
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Summoning Team CVE-2023-20887 proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- VMware-confirmed exploitation in the wildreported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listingknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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