Facebook Google Plus Twitter LinkedIn YouTube RSS Menu Search Resource - BlogResource - WebinarResource - ReportResource - Eventicons_066 icons_067icons_068icons_069icons_070

Tenable Blog

Subscribe

CVE-2023-20864: VMware Aria Operations for Logs Deserialization Vulnerability

Tenable Cyber Exposure Alert for CVE-2023-20864, a deserialization vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Logs

VMware issues advisory to address two flaws in its VMware Aria Operations for Logs solution, including a critical deserialization flaw assigned a CVSSv3 score of 9.8.

Background

On April 20, VMware published an advisory (VMSA-2023-0007) to address two vulnerabilities in VMware Aria Operations for Logs, formerly known as vRealize Log Insight, a centralized log management solution.

CVE Description CVSSv3 VPR*
CVE-2023-20864 Deserialization Vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Logs 9.8 8.4
CVE-2023-20865 OS Command Injection in VMware Aria Operations for Logs 7.2 8.4

*Please note: Tenable’s Vulnerability Priority Rating (VPR) scores are calculated nightly. This blog post was published on April 21 and reflects VPR at that time.

Both flaws were reported to VMware prior to the advisory being published. CVE-2023-20864 was disclosed by anonymous via Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative, while CVE-2023-20865 was disclosed by researchers Y4er & MoonBack of 埃文科技.

Analysis

CVE-2023-20864 is a deserialization vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Logs. An unauthenticated, remote attacker capable of accessing VMware Aria Operations for Logs could exploit this vulnerability in order to gain arbitrary code execution with root privileges.

CVE-2023-20865 is an operating system (OS) command injection vulnerability in VMware Aria Operations for Logs. An attacker that has authenticated to a vulnerable VMware Aria Operations for Logs instance with administrative privileges could exploit this vulnerability to gain arbitrary code execution with root privileges.

VMware urges patching ‘immediately’ for CVE-2023-20864

In a knowledge base (KB) article, VMware provided additional information regarding VMSA-2023-0007. According to VMware, since CVE-2023-20864 is a “critical issue” it “should be patched immediately.”

Impact from CVE-2023-20864 limited to one version of product

In the same KB article, VMware notes that CVE-2023-20864 only affects VMware Aria Operations for Logs version 8.10.2, while multiple versions of the product are vulnerable to CVE-2023-20865. However, despite the broader scope of affected products, the requirements to exploit CVE-2023-20865 (authenticated with admin privileges) make it less of a concern.

Second significant advisory for VMware Aria Operations for Logs in 2023

In January, VMware published an advisory (VMSA-2023-0001) addressing four vulnerabilities in vRealize Log Insight, the former name for VMware Aria Operations for Logs. In this January advisory, a different deserialization vulnerability (CVE-2022-31710) was patched along with a critical directory traversal flaw (CVE-2022-31706). Researchers on the Horizon3 Attack Team published a proof-of-concept for CVE-2022-31706 within a week following the publication of the advisory.

Potential value for flaw as part of post-compromise activity

Because of the nature of the VMware Aria Operations for Logs product not being a public facing asset, we do not anticipate seeing widespread exploitation of this flaw. However, an attacker that gains a foothold into a network running a vulnerable version of VMware Aria Operations for Logs could utilize a flaw like this one as part of their post-compromise activity.

Proof of concept

At the time this blog post was published, no proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits were available for either CVE-2023-20864 and CVE-2023-20865.

Solution

VMware has released version 8.12 of VMware Aria Operations for Logs to address these flaws. The following table includes information on affected and fixed versions along with applicable CVEs.

Applicable CVE Affected Versions Fixed Versions
CVE-2023-20864 8.10.2 8.12
CVE-2023-20865 8.10.2, 8.10, 8.8.x, 8.6.x 8.12

Identifying affected systems

A list of Tenable plugins to identify these vulnerabilities will appear here as they’re released. This link uses a search filter to ensure that all matching plugin coverage will appear as it is released.

Customers can also check the status of these plugins on our Plugins Pipeline page.

Get more information

Join Tenable's Security Response Team on the Tenable Community.

Learn more about https://www.tenable.com/products/tenable-one">Tenable One, the Exposure Management Platform for the modern attack surface.

Related Articles

Cybersecurity News You Can Use

Enter your email and never miss timely alerts and security guidance from the experts at Tenable.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy.

Your Tenable Vulnerability Management trial also includes Tenable Lumin and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

100 assets

Choose Your Subscription Option:

Buy Now

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy.

Your Tenable Vulnerability Management trial also includes Tenable Lumin and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

100 assets

Choose Your Subscription Option:

Buy Now

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy.

Your Tenable Vulnerability Management trial also includes Tenable Lumin and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

100 assets

Choose Your Subscription Option:

Buy Now

Try Tenable Web App Scanning

Enjoy full access to our latest web application scanning offering designed for modern applications as part of the Tenable One Exposure Management platform. Safely scan your entire online portfolio for vulnerabilities with a high degree of accuracy without heavy manual effort or disruption to critical web applications. Sign up now.

Your Tenable Web App Scanning trial also includes Tenable Vulnerability Management and Tenable Lumin.

Buy Tenable Web App Scanning

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

5 FQDNs

$3,578

Buy Now

Try Tenable Lumin

Visualize and explore your exposure management, track risk reduction over time and benchmark against your peers with Tenable Lumin.

Your Tenable Lumin trial also includes Tenable Vulnerability Management and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Buy Tenable Lumin

Contact a Sales Representative to see how Tenable Lumin can help you gain insight across your entire organization and manage cyber risk.

Try Tenable Nessus Professional Free

FREE FOR 7 DAYS

Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today.

NEW - Tenable Nessus Expert
Now Available

Nessus Expert adds even more features, including external attack surface scanning, and the ability to add domains and scan cloud infrastructure. Click here to Try Nessus Expert.

Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro Trial.

Buy Tenable Nessus Professional

Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team.

Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Select Your License

Buy a multi-year license and save.

Add Support and Training

Try Tenable Nessus Expert Free

FREE FOR 7 DAYS

Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud.

Already have Tenable Nessus Professional?
Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days.

Buy Tenable Nessus Expert

Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud.

Select Your License

Buy a multi-year license and save more.

Add Support and Training