CASCACascade Atlas

Evidence dossier

CVE-2023-20867

VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV since Jun 23, 2023). NVD reports CVSS 3.1 3.9. EPSS estimates 13.5% exploit likelihood as of Aug 27, 2026.

62.4–63.2Priority evidence range
Evidence current through Aug 27, 2026, 6:09 PM UTC

As of Aug 27, 2026

Normalized restatement

A fully compromised ESXi host can force VMware Tools to fail to authenticate host-to-guest operations, impacting the confidentiality and integrity of the guest virtual machine.

State
PUBLISHED
Published
Jun 13, 2023
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Evidence coverage
98%

Evidence chronology

What was known when

Download this view's receipt →
  1. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    CISA-ADP

    Record text: CISA ADP Vulnrichment

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    CISA ADP Vulnrichment
    Original evidence ↗
  2. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    CVE Program

    Record text: CVE Program Container

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    CVE Program Container
    Original evidence ↗
  3. Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCA
    vmware

    Record text: VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    container
    Value
    VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
    Original evidence ↗
  4. Source dateFirst observed by CASCA
    CISA KEV

    Exploitation cataloged: VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    observed_exploitation
    Value
    VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
    Original evidence ↗
  5. Source dateFirst observed by CASCA
    FIRST EPSS

    EPSS score: 13.53% probability · 96.17th percentile

    Inspect raw assertion
    Field
    model_probability
    Value
    Probability 0.135300000000; percentile 0.961650000000
    Original evidence ↗
ExploitationCatalog member

CISA KEV · catalog date Jun 23, 2023 · first observed Jul 19, 2026

Exploit likelihood13.53%

FIRST EPSS · score date Aug 27, 2026 · 96.2th percentile · first observed Aug 27, 2026

SeverityCVSS 3.9

NVD · CVSS 3.1 · first observed Jul 19, 2026 · same-version scores align in this snapshot

Evidence detail

Source limits and decisions

Why each evidence state has this value

casca-unknown-reasons-v1
Exploitation statusEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
evidence-policy-v1.1.0
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Exploit likelihoodEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
evidence-policy-v1.1.0
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Severity assessmentEvidence supported

Eligible evidence is present for this bounded claim.

Revision
casca-direct-cvss-eligibility-v1
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
None
Affected productsSource-reported scope

The cited source assertion is retained while canonical product linkage remains open.

Revision
casca-factor-d-obligations-v1
Cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Resolution
Resolve identity

Source comparison

Who said what

CISA-ADPIndependent enrichment
Record text

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
CISA ADP Vulnrichment
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
CVE ProgramDerivative copy
Record text

CVE Program Container

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
CVE Program Container
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
vmwareOriginal assertion
Record text

VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Inspect raw assertion
Field
container
Value
VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Source dateSource date omittedFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
CISA KEVOriginal assertion
Exploitation cataloged

VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Inspect raw assertion
Field
observed_exploitation
Value
VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Source dateFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗
FIRST EPSSOriginal assertion
EPSS score

13.53% probability · 96.17th percentile

Inspect raw assertion
Field
model_probability
Value
Probability 0.135300000000; percentile 0.961650000000
Source dateFirst observed by CASCAOriginal evidence ↗

Applicability

Cited product scope

Trace impact →
7Underlying assertions
3Canonical products
7Target assertions
0Constraint assertions

Grouped from 3 configuration nodes in this exact snapshot. Visual grouping is navigational; asset exposure and root cause require cited evidence.

Identity source boundaries
  • Cpe dictionary1,775,266 records · observed through 2026-07-21T06:45:29.809Z27d65b0f-b718-4b4f-bb79-c47c68d09dfa
  • Cpe match643,502 records · observed through 2026-07-21T08:13:17.697Z955dae73-7302-438b-aee1-058d7cc5d48e

4 scope groups

vmware · source assertedVMwareVMware ToolsDirect source scope
Unaffected: 12.2.5
Source-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Inspect raw assertion[{"status": "unaffected", "version": "12.2.5"}]
NVD CPE · OPERATING SYSTEMdebiandebian_linuxVulnerable target · 3 assertions
Version 10.0; Version 11.0; Version 12.0Canonical identity product-3ccb4bc87dfae98fa2f2a06435fe5b3d9be78572fb958a89f2d7a96b4066447eLinked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertions
  1. cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    1 · node/0 · match 1
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    fa6feec2-9f11-4643-8827-749718254fed
  2. cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    1 · node/0 · match 0
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    07b237a9-69a3-4a9c-9da0-4e06bd37ae73
  3. cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    1 · node/0 · match 2
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    46d69dcc-ae4d-4ea5-861c-d60951444c6c
NVD CPE · OPERATING SYSTEMfedoraprojectfedoraVulnerable target · 3 assertions
Version 37; Version 38; Version 39Canonical identity product-c96c7662a6606ed7594747da3d7ba9ee3a9758ab11658f6a3f42616361472e47Linked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertions
  1. cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    2 · node/0 · match 0
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    e30d0e6f-4ae8-4284-8716-991dfa48cc5d
  2. cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    2 · node/0 · match 1
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    cc559b26-5dfc-4b7a-a27c-b77de755dff9
  3. cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    2 · node/0 · match 2
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    No explicit bounds
    Match ID
    b8edb836-4e6a-4b71-b9b2-aa3e03e0f646
NVD CPE · APPLICATIONvmwaretoolsVulnerable target · 1 assertions
Any version (unconstrained) (>= 10.3.0, < 12.2.5)Canonical identity product-9b1558c2e7e499d41e88709e3977af527434adc73075f6839975958d90ef6546Linked exact
Scope supported
Inspect raw assertion
  1. cpe:2.3:a:vmware:tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Official link
    Linked exact
    Role
    Vulnerable target
    Configuration
    0 · node/0 · match 0
    Logic
    OR
    Version bounds
    from including 10.3.0; through excluding 12.2.5
    Match ID
    7e0027c7-536c-42dc-a0fa-7215968b3e1b

Affected-product evidence

Accepted scope and product mapping

3 canonical links · 1 source-reported links

Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-66ae8c5e06427f7450637d18322b0dc411c0b469d940341cf076a620d444fe3c · product-3ccb4bc87dfae98fa2f2a06435fe5b3d9be78572fb958a89f2d7a96b4066447e

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
3
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
727396d4-e688-413c-9c4b-fa4a6514afc3a84d0bea-ee67-4cac-a54d-3178da64144abfd929f6-90b3-4482-9fdd-f11044123cdb
Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-6b310233dbc1eceadb11ae200191b71c5a499cd0c4916b064b08d7f851b21f9f · product-9b1558c2e7e499d41e88709e3977af527434adc73075f6839975958d90ef6546

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
1
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
f5995834-9da1-4fc4-b34e-040be493dc0d
Mapping establishedEvidence supported

vendor-2d566b06907460b10e6e48c8544126e19f1d6df137983056edae8d0b51e34e45 · product-c96c7662a6606ed7594747da3d7ba9ee3a9758ab11658f6a3f42616361472e47

Source class
Nvd cpe vulnerable target
Assertions
3
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
63af9815-483d-439f-847e-27495ffd347271b27f8c-6050-4d72-9e0a-f6c4d3652bfdcb942ee3-4074-40f4-bdf1-e8f283feb746
Source-reported scopeSource-reported scope

Canonical linkage remains open; the cited source assertion is retained below.

Vendor specified only by source · Product specified only by source

Source class
Direct cve affected
Assertions
1
Mapping revision
cpe23-exact-mapping-v1
Observed cutoff
Aug 27, 2026
Retained assertion IDs
28e42cb9-1a41-48d2-ae37-e1300e17f913

Assessments

CVSS by origin

3.9
NVDCVSS 3.1 · role Primary · priority eligiblevalid_matchCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
3.9
security@vmware.comCVSS 3.1 · role Secondary · priority eligiblevalid_matchCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
3.9
vmwareCVSS 3.1 · role unknown · display onlyDirect record assessment retained outside normalized eligibilityCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Direct CVE/CNA normalized decisions

3.9Priority eligible

vmware

CVSS 3.1 · Primary · Original assertion · rank 1

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Validation
Valid match
Recomputed
3.9
Decision reason
Evidence supported
Policy
casca-direct-cvss-eligibility-v1

Assessments are retained side by side under closed precedence. Cascade never averages CVSS.

Evidence boundaries

  • KEV membership is authoritative for the catalog, not proof of exposure in any environment.
  • EPSS is a dated model probability and not an individual-environment prediction.
  • Affected or fixed status applies only to the exact cited product and version scope; remaining scope stays source-scoped.
  • NVD-carried upstream facts remain derivative; independent corroboration requires a separately authored source.
  • Only NVD metrics validated under the generation-bound calculator are Public Priority eligible; direct CVE record metrics remain display-only.
  • NVD CVSS source eligibility is closed: NVD-authored, exact record-source, or registered same-CVE container origin; unmapped sources remain display-only.
  • Core replay supports the active and immediately prior generation; retrospective valid-at replay is deferred.
  • OSV aggregation and OSV-converted NVD material are not independent corroboration.
  • Red Hat facts are vendor assertions for the exact supplied products.
  • Nonmembership and not-yet-observed states are not proof of safety.