CVE-2023-20891: The VMware Tanzu Application Service for VMs and Isolation Segment contain an information disclosure vulnerabi

Routine

MEDIUM 6.5UPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2023-20891 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting isolation segment, tanzu application service for virtual machines. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The VMware Tanzu Application Service for VMs and Isolation Segment contain an information disclosure vulnerability due to the logging of credentials in hex encoding in platform system audit logs. A malicious non-admin user who has access to the platform system audit logs can access hex encoded CF API admin credentials and can push new malicious versions of an application. In a default deployment non-admin users do not have access to the platform

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 50%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-532
Published	2023-07-26
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): VMware · Vendor: vmware

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-07-26 06:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:31 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware isolation segment UPGRADE

Affected: >= 2.11.0 and < 2.11.35 · >= 2.13.0 and < 2.13.20 · >= 3.0.0 and < 3.0.13 · >= 4.0.0 and < 4.0.4

Fixed in: 2.11.35, 2.13.20, 3.0.13, 4.0.4

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.11.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy isolation-segment || rpm -q isolation-segment || isolation-segment --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.11.35 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade isolation-segment

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade isolation-segment

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.11.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison isolation-segment sudo apt install isolation-segment=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.11.0> sudo apt-mark hold isolation-segment

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list isolation-segment sudo dnf downgrade isolation-segment-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.11.0> sudo dnf versionlock add isolation-segment

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

vmware tanzu application service for virtual machines UPGRADE

Affected: >= 2.11.0 and < 2.11.42 · >= 2.13.0 and < 2.13.24 · >= 3.0.0 and < 3.0.14 · >= 4.0.0 and < 4.0.5

Fixed in: 2.11.42, 2.13.24, 3.0.14, 4.0.5

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.11.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines || rpm -q tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines || tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.11.42 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.11.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines sudo apt install tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.11.0> sudo apt-mark hold tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines sudo dnf downgrade tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.11.0> sudo dnf versionlock add tanzu-application-service-for-virtual-machines

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-20891?

isolation segment: upgrade to 2.11.35, 2.13.20, 3.0.13, 4.0.4; tanzu application service for virtual machines: upgrade to 2.11.42, 2.13.24, 3.0.14, 4.0.5. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-20891 being exploited?

CVE-2023-20891 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-20891 affect?

CVE-2023-20891 affects isolation segment, tanzu application service for virtual machines. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). The VMware Tanzu Application Service for VMs and Isolation Segment contain an information disclosure vulnerability due to the logging of credentials in hex encoding in platform system audit logs. A malicious non-admin user who has access to

How urgent is CVE-2023-20891?

Priority 35/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

VMware vulnerabilities

References

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