CVE-2023-20900: A malicious actor that has been granted Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/

This month

HIGH 7.1WATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-20900 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.1) affecting tools, open vm tools, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A malicious actor that has been granted Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html in a target virtual machine may be able to elevate their privileges if that target virtual machine has been assigned a more privileged Guest Alias https://vdc-download.vmware.com/vmwb-repository/dcr-public/d1902b0e-d479-46bf-8ac9-cee0e31e8ec0/07ce8dbd-db48-4261-9b8f-c6d

Why this priority

High severity
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.1 (High)
Attack vector	Adjacent network
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.5% (top 26%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-294
Published	2023-08-31
Last modified	2026-10-08

Publisher (CNA): VMware · Vendor: debian · fedoraproject · netapp · vmware

Last updated 2026-10-08 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-08-31 10:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-08 22:17 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware tools UPGRADE

Affected: >= 10.3.0 and < 12.3.0 · >= 10.3.0 and < 10.3.26

Fixed in: 10.3.26, 12.3.0

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.3.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy tools || rpm -q tools || tools --version

2. UPGRADE to 10.3.26 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade tools

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade tools

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 10.3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison tools sudo apt install tools=<VERSION_BEFORE_10.3.0> sudo apt-mark hold tools

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

dnf --showduplicates list tools sudo dnf downgrade tools-<VERSION_BEFORE_10.3.0> sudo dnf versionlock add tools

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 open vm tools UPGRADE

Affected: >= 10.3.0 and < 12.3.0

Fixed in: 12.3.0

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.3.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy open-vm-tools || rpm -q open-vm-tools || open-vm-tools --version

2. UPGRADE to 12.3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade open-vm-tools

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade open-vm-tools

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 10.3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison open-vm-tools sudo apt install open-vm-tools=<VERSION_BEFORE_10.3.0> sudo apt-mark hold open-vm-tools

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

dnf --showduplicates list open-vm-tools sudo dnf downgrade open-vm-tools-<VERSION_BEFORE_10.3.0> sudo dnf versionlock add open-vm-tools

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.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 37 · 38 · 39

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 37

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.0 · 11.0 · 12.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

netapp ontap select deploy administration utility MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ontap-select-deploy-administration-utility || rpm -q ontap-select-deploy-administration-utility || ontap-select-deploy-administration-utility --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

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-2023-20900?

tools: upgrade to 10.3.26, 12.3.0; open vm tools: upgrade to 12.3.0; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-20900 being exploited?

CVE-2023-20900 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-2023-20900 affect?

CVE-2023-20900 affects tools, open vm tools, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.1). A malicious actor that has been granted Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html in a target virtual machine may be able to elevate their priv

How urgent is CVE-2023-20900?

Priority 48/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · VMware vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-34058 HIGH 7.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE VMware Tools contains a SAML token signature bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor that has been granted Gu
CVE-2023-34057 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE VMware Tools contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious actor with local user access to
CVE-2023-20867 LOW 3.9 EXPLOITED UPGRADE MITIGATE VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
CVE-2022-31693 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE VMware Tools for Windows (12.x.y prior to 12.1.5, 11.x.y and 10.x.y) contains a denial-of-service vulnerabilit
CVE-2022-31676 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE VMware Tools (12.0.0, 11.x.y and 10.x.y) contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability

References

← Back to latest CVEs