VMware Aria Operations: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-22721 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations from VMware, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 8.18.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating VMware Aria Operations to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.74% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update VMware Aria Operations to 8.18.6 or a later version.
- Update VMware Cloud Foundation to 5.2.3 or 9.0.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update VMware Telco Cloud Platform to 5.2.3 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.broadcom.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| VMware | VMware Aria Operations | 8.18.0 up to, but not including, 8.18.6 | 8.18.6 |
| VMware | VMware Cloud Foundation | 4.0 up to, but not including, 5.2.3; 9.0 up to, but not including, 9.0.2 | 5.2.3, 9.0.2 |
| VMware | VMware Telco Cloud Platform | 4.0 up to, but not including, 5.2.3 | 5.2.3 |
| VMware | VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure | 2.0 up to, but not including, 5.2.3 | 5.2.3 |
| VMware | Aria Operations | 8.0 up to, but not including, 8.18.6 | 8.18.6 |
| VMware | Cloud Foundation | 4.0 up to, but not including, 5.2.3; 9.0 up to, but not including, 9.0.2.0 | 5.2.3, 9.0.2.0 |
| VMware | Telco Cloud Infrastructure | 2.2 through 3.0 | Not stated |
| VMware | Telco Cloud Platform | 4.0 through 5.1 | Not 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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- 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:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.2 | Medium | CNA (vmware.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
VMware Aria Operations contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious actor with privileges in vCenter to access Aria Operations may leverage this vulnerability to obtain administrative access in VMware Aria Operations. To remediate CVE-2026-22721, apply the patches listed in the 'Fixed Version' column of the 'Response Matrix' found in VMSA-2026-0001 https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/36947 .
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in VMware Aria Operations
- 8.0 High severity
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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