CVE-2020-3952

VMware vCenter Server: Information Disclosure

As of , CVE-2020-3952 in VMware vCenter Server is on CISA's list of exploited vulnerabilities: CISA listed it on . Our patch-first group: Patch this week.

Exploited
Yes: CISA listed it on 3 November 2021
US federal deadline
3 May 2022181 days after CISA listed it. US federal civilian agencies must fix it by then.
Used in ransomware campaigns
Not known to CISA
EPSS score
0.90Higher than 99% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
EPSS when listed
Not availableCISA listed it before 4 February 2022, where the EPSS files we read begin.
Public exploit
2 Metasploit modules and 1 Exploit-DB entry
Fix
No vendor link in CISA's entry

What CISA says to do

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA's required action

What the flaw is

VMware vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability in the VMware Directory Service (vmdir) when the Platform Services Controller (PSC) does not correctly implement access controls. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with network access to port 389 to extract sensitive information.

CISA's description

Under certain conditions, vmdir that ships with VMware vCenter Server, as part of an embedded or external Platform Services Controller (PSC), does not correctly implement access controls.

The CVE record's description, from vmware

CVE published
10 April 2020
Assigned by
vmware
CVSS
9.8 Critical (CVSS 3.1, from CISA-ADP)
CWE-306
Missing Authentication for Critical Function
CISA SSVC, exploitation
active
CISA SSVC, automatable
yes
CISA SSVC, technical impact
total

Timeline

  1. The CVE record was published.
  2. Exploit-DB published an exploit (EDB-ID 48535).
  3. CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
  4. The US federal deadline to fix it.

Public exploits

Facts from Metasploit's module list and Exploit-DB's index; we never copy exploit code.

  • Metasploit: VMware vCenter Server vmdir Authentication Bypassauxiliary module, rank normal
  • Metasploit: VMware vCenter Server vmdir Information Disclosureauxiliary module, rank normal
  • Exploit-DB: VMware vCenter Server 6.7 - Authentication BypassEDB-ID 48535, 1 June 2020

vCenter Server: other exploited entries

VulnerabilityProductOur groupListedDeadlineEPSS
CVE-2021-21972Remote Code ExecutionVMware vCenter ServerPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.990.99
CVE-2021-21985Improper Input ValidationVMware vCenter ServerPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.990.99
CVE-2021-22005File UploadVMware vCenter ServerPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.990.99
CVE-2022-22948Incorrect Default File PermissionsVMware vCenter ServerPatch this weekMetasploit module0.13
CVE-2023-34048Out-of-Bounds WriteVMware vCenter ServerPatch this weekEPSS 0.990.99
CVE-2024-38812Heap-Based Buffer OverflowVMware vCenter ServerPatch this weekEPSS 0.550.55
CVE-2021-22017Improper Access ControlVMware vCenter ServerPatch soon0.49
CVE-2024-38813Privilege EscalationVMware vCenter ServerPatch soon0.17

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