CVE-2020-4006 is a critical command injection vulnerability affecting VMware Workspace One Access, Access Connector, Identity Manager, and Identity Manager Connector. This flaw, which carries a CVSS score of 9.1, could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations must prioritize patching immediately to prevent potential exploitation.
The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation, enabling attackers with network access on port 8443 and valid credentials to the configuration interface to execute commands with high privileges. The severity of this flaw necessitates urgent remediation efforts from organizations using these products.
Organizations should closely monitor their systems for any indications of exploitation attempts, as the potential for significant damage exists. The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data and disruption of services, further emphasizing the need for immediate action.
As of now, there are no known public exploits available, but the critical nature of the vulnerability means that organizations should remain vigilant and apply necessary updates as soon as they are available.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of this vulnerability states that 'VMware Workspace One Access, Access Connector, Identity Manager, and Identity Manager Connector address have a command injection vulnerability.' It is classified under CWE-78, indicating issues related to improper input handling. This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.1, indicating a critical severity level due to its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The affected products include multiple versions of VMware's Identity Manager and one access products, specifically versions 3.3.1 through 3.3.3 for Identity Manager and 20.01 and 20.10 for One Access. The vulnerability was published on November 23, 2020.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in command injection resulting from insufficient input validation, allowing unauthorized command execution on the affected systems. The attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity and high privileges required for exploitation. Notably, user interaction is not necessary for this attack, which increases the risk of exploitation. If successfully executed, the attack can lead to significant confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2020-4006 is substantial, as successful exploitation could lead to complete control over the affected systems, including access to sensitive information and critical services. The potential blast radius includes all systems running affected VMware products, heightening the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability in their patch cycles.
Given that this vulnerability is included in the KEV catalog, it has been recognized as actively exploited in the wild, which further emphasizes the need for immediate action. Organizations should assess their exposure and prioritize this vulnerability in their remediation strategies.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of VMware products are affected by this vulnerability:
VMware Identity Manager: 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3
VMware Identity Manager Connector: 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3
VMware One Access: 20.01, 20.10
VMware Cloud Foundation: 4.0, 4.0.1
VMware vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager: Versions 8.0 through 8.2.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations are advised to apply the necessary patches from VMware immediately. For products like VMware Workspace One Access, Identity Manager, and others, VMware has provided specific update instructions to remediate this vulnerability.
In cases where a patch is not immediately available, organizations should implement strict network controls on the configuration interface to limit access to authorized personnel only. Monitoring for unusual activity on affected systems can also help mitigate risks until patches are applied.
For comprehensive security validation, organizations can utilize penetration testing services to evaluate the effectiveness of their defenses against such vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts of CVE-2020-4006, organizations should monitor logs for unusual activities, especially around the administrative configurator on port 8443. Indicators of compromise may include unexpected command executions or unauthorized access attempts.
Network signatures can also be developed to detect abnormal traffic patterns targeting the administrative interface, which could indicate an ongoing exploitation attempt.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2020-4006 illustrates the critical importance of robust input validation in software development. The command injection vulnerability it represents is a common issue that can lead to severe consequences when not properly mitigated.
The long-term significance of this vulnerability serves as a reminder for security teams to adopt comprehensive security practices during the software development lifecycle. Organizations should ensure that their development teams are trained on secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future.
Regular security assessments, such as application security assessments, can help identify vulnerabilities early in the development process, ensuring a more secure product release.
Furthermore, organizations should consider adopting a continuous penetration testing strategy to maintain ongoing security validation as part of their cybersecurity posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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