CVE-2023-20887
CVE-2023-20887 is a security flaw in VMware Aria Operations for Networks, VMware’s software for running virtual machines in data centres. Attackers can run their own code on VMware Aria Operations for Networks. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 22 Jun 2023.[1]
VMware Aria Operations for Networks is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. VMware has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a command injection in VMware Aria Operations for Networks. In its words: “VMware Aria Operations for Networks (formerly vRealize Network Insight) contains a command injection vulnerability that allows a malicious actor with network access to perform an attack resulting in remote code execution.”[1]
The underlying weakness is command injection (CWE-77), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; VMware’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as VMware Aria Operations for Networks.
Most families won’t have VMware Aria Operations for Networks; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 22 Jun 2023, 15 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 13 Jul 2023 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 98%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
VMware has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.VMware Aria Operations for Networks is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 13 Jul 2023 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 98%.[4] |
See also
Other VMware flaws
- CVE-2025-22226, VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion: information disclosure ·
- CVE-2025-22225, VMware ESXi: arbitrary write ·
- CVE-2025-22224, VMware ESXi and Workstation: TOCTOU race condition ·
- CVE-2024-38813, VMware vCenter Server: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2024-38812, VMware vCenter Server: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Other command injection flaws
- CVE-2026-105134, AhsayCBS: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-96951, Microsoft Windows: command injection ·
- CVE-2016-3081, Apache Struts: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-8037, Progress LoadMaster: command injection ·
- CVE-2025-29635, D-Link DIR-823X: command injection ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2021-44026, Roundcube Webmail: webmail SQL injection ·
- CVE-2020-35730, Roundcube Webmail: webmail cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2020-12641, Roundcube Webmail: webmail remote code execution ·
- CVE-2016-9079, Mozilla Firefox, Firefox ESR, and Thunderbird: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2016-0165, Microsoft Win32k: privilege escalation ·
Every VMware flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in June 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Vmware Aria Operations for Networks Command Injection Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 22 Jun 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-20887 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 7 Jun 2023.
- ^ VMware. Advisories and fixes: vmware.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.983, percentile 99.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-20887”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.