CVE-2023-20888Network attack vector

Member-role remote code execution

Published Jun 7, 2023 · Updated Jan 7, 2025

Deserialization in VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.x allows remote authenticated users to execute code over the network. VMware has not disclosed the affected component, deserialization entry point, data format, or unsafe operation performed on attacker-controlled input. Reachability requires network access and valid member-role credentials; successful exploitation executes code on the appliance.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability82.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Deserialization in VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.x allows remote authenticated users to execute code over the network. VMware has not disclosed the affected component, deserialization entry point, data format, or unsafe operation performed on attacker-controlled input. Reachability requires network access and valid member-role credentials; successful exploitation executes code on the appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20888
Published
Jun 7, 2023
Updated
Jan 7, 2025
Vendor
VMware
Product
Aria Operations for Networks
Classifications
CWE-502, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 7, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=Aria Operations for Networks (Formerly vRealize Network Insight) 6.x

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · Aria Operations for Networksversion=Aria Operations for Networks (Formerly vRealize Network Insight) 6.x

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.1VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo