How severe is CVE-2023-20896?

CVE-2023-20896 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.9, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2023-20896 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (56th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-20896?

CVE-2023-20896 primarily affects Vmware Vcenter Server. In total, 33 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20896?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2023-20896 published?

CVE-2023-20896 was published on 2023-06-22 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-20896

CVE-2023-20896 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Vmware Vcenter Server with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-125.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.9)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (56th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-125
Affected product: Vmware Vcenter Server
Published: 2023-06-22
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The VMware vCenter Server contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger an out-of-bounds read by sending a specially crafted packet leading to denial-of-service of certain services (vmcad, vmdird, and vmafdd).

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-20896?: The VMware vCenter Server contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger an out-of-bounds read by sending a specially crafted packet leading to denial-of-service of certain services (vmcad, vmdird, and vmafdd).
How severe is CVE-2023-20896?: CVE-2023-20896 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.9, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2023-20896 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (56th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-20896?: CVE-2023-20896 primarily affects Vmware Vcenter Server. In total, 33 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20896?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2023-20896 published?: CVE-2023-20896 was published on 2023-06-22 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (33)

cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:a:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:b:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:c:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:d:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1a:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1c:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1d:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2a:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2b:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2c:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2d:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3a:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3c:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3d:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3e:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3f:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3g:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3h:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3i:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3j:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3k:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update3l:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:8.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:8.0:a:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:8.0:b:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:8.0:c:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:8.0:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:8.0:update1a:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Vmware Vcenter Server

CVE-2015-2342 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The JMX RMI service in VMware vCenter Server 5.0 before u3e, 5.1 before u3b, 5.5 before u3, and 6.0 before u1 does not…
CVE-2013-1405 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): VMware vCenter Server 4.0 before Update 4b and 4.1 before Update 3a, VMware VirtualCenter 2.5, VMware vSphere Client…
CVE-2024-38812 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The vCenter Server contains a heap-overflow vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious…
CVE-2024-37080 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): vCenter Server contains a heap-overflow vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor…
CVE-2024-37079 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): vCenter Server contains a heap-overflow vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor…
CVE-2023-34048 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): vCenter Server contains an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious…

All CVEs affecting Vmware Vcenter Server →

Other CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-24826 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Out-of-bounds Write, Divide By Zero, NULL Pointer Dereference, Use of Uninitialized Resource, Out-of-bounds Read,…
CVE-2024-22004 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Due to length check, an attacker with privilege access on a Linux Nonsecure operating system can trigger a…
CVE-2021-41556 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): sqclass.cpp in Squirrel through 2.2.5 and 3.x through 3.1 allows an out-of-bounds read (in the core interpreter) that…
CVE-2021-21777 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Ethernet/IP UDP handler functionality of EIP Stack Group OpENer…
CVE-2017-14451 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An exploitable out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in libevm (Ethereum Virtual Machine) of CPP-Ethereum. A…
CVE-2013-0767 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The nsSVGPathElement::GetPathLengthScale function in Mozilla Firefox before 18.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.12 and…

Browse all CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) vulnerabilities →