CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-20864NVD status: Modified

VMware Aria Operations for Logs (formerly…: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

CVE-2023-20864 is a critical-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Logs (formerly vRealize Log Insight), with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 70.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 0.6% of all scored CVEs.

Patch now

Exploitation in the next 30 days is more likely than not, according to EPSS.

What to do

  1. Update Aria Operations For Logs to 8.12.0 or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on vmware.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
VMware Aria Operations for Logs (formerly vRealize Log Insight)VMware Aria Operations for Logs (formerly vRealize Log Insight)Not specified in the recordNot stated
VMwareAria Operations For Logs8.10.2 up to, but not including, 8.12.08.12.0
VMwareCloud Foundation4.0 through 4.5Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalCISA (ADP)

Official description

VMware Aria Operations for Logs contains a deserialization vulnerability. An unauthenticated, malicious actor with network access to VMware Aria Operations for Logs may be able to execute arbitrary code as root.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
  • When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.
  • Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.

More Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities (CWE-502)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in VMware Aria Operations for Logs (formerly vRealize Log Insight)

All VMware Aria Operations for Logs (formerly vRealize Log Insight) vulnerabilities

Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities

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