---
id: CVE-2023-20900
title: "A malicious actor that has been granted  Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html \_in a target virtual machine may be able to elevate their p…"
summary: "A malicious actor that has been granted  Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html \_in a target virtual machine may be able to elevate their p…"
severity: high
cvss: 7.1
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-294
vendor: vmware
product: tools
affected:
  - 'tools >= 10.3.0, < 12.3.0'
  - 'tools >= 10.3.0, < 10.3.26'
  - 'open_vm_tools >= 10.3.0, < 12.3.0'
  - fedora = 37
  - fedora = 38
  - fedora = 39
  - debian_linux = 10.0
  - debian_linux = 11.0
  - debian_linux = 12.0
  - ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility
patched:
  - tools 10.3.26
  - open_vm_tools 12.3.0
published: '2023-08-31'
updated: '2026-10-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-08T22:17:22.590'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20900'
references:
  - url: 'http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/08/31/1'
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: 'http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/27/1'
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/10/msg00000.html'
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVKQ6Y2JFJRWPFOZUOTFO3H27BK5GGOG/
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TJNJMD67QIT6LXLKWSHFM47DCLRSMT6W/
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZJM6HDRQYS74JA7YNKQBFH2XSZ52HEWH/
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231013-0002/'
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: 'https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493'
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: 'https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0019.html'
    label: security@vmware.com
  - url: 'http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/08/31/1'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/27/1'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/10/msg00000.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVKQ6Y2JFJRWPFOZUOTFO3H27BK5GGOG/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TJNJMD67QIT6LXLKWSHFM47DCLRSMT6W/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZJM6HDRQYS74JA7YNKQBFH2XSZ52HEWH/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231013-0002/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5493'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0019.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.01463
epssPercentile: 0.72823
ingestedAt: '2026-10-08T23:16:47.351Z'
---

## Overview

A malicious actor that has been granted  Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html  in a target virtual machine may be able to elevate their privileges if that target virtual machine has been assigned a more privileged  Guest Alias https://vdc-download.vmware.com/vmwb-repository/dcr-public/d1902b0e-d479-46bf-8ac9-cee0e31e8ec0/07ce8dbd-db48-4261-9b8f-c6d3ad8ba472/vim.vm.guest.AliasManager.html .

## Affected

- `tools >= 10.3.0, < 12.3.0`
- `tools >= 10.3.0, < 10.3.26`
- `open_vm_tools >= 10.3.0, < 12.3.0`
- `fedora = 37`
- `fedora = 38`
- `fedora = 39`
- `debian_linux = 10.0`
- `debian_linux = 11.0`
- `debian_linux = 12.0`
- `ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `tools 10.3.26`
- `open_vm_tools 12.3.0`