Actively exploited vulnerability

VMware products: code execution flaw under attack

CVE-2020-4006 · Multiple VMware Products Command Injection Vulnerability

Concerns everyone who uses it9.1 critical

What is affected

VMware products are found on ordinary personal computers and phones, so this is not only a problem for companies. If you use them and have not updated since the fix was released, you are exposed.

VMware Workspace One Access, Access Connector, Identity Manager, and Identity Manager Connector contain a command injection vulnerability. An attacker with network access to the administrative configurator on port 8443 and a valid password for the configurator administrator account can execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system.

CISA's description

What an attacker can do

This is a code execution flaw. It lets an attacker run their own commands or programs on the affected system. In practice that usually means taking it over: installing malware, stealing data or using it to reach other devices on the same network.

How it is reached
Over the internet or network
Access the attacker needs
An administrator account
Does the victim have to do something?
No, works without the victim doing anything

What to do

  1. Update VMware products now. Open the update or "About" screen, install whatever is offered and restart the app or device, because the fix is not active until you do.
  2. Turn on automatic updates so the next fix arrives without you having to look for it.
  3. If your device is too old to receive this update, stop using the affected app for anything sensitive and plan a replacement.

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Action required by CISA for US federal agencies

How urgent is it

CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on November 3, 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by May 3, 2022, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.

The EPSS model estimates a 17% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 97% of all scored vulnerabilities.

Its CVSS severity score is 9.1 out of 10 (critical), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.

Technical description

VMware Workspace One Access, Access Connector, Identity Manager, and Identity Manager Connector address have a command injection vulnerability.

NIST National Vulnerability Database
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