# CVE-2022-22960: VMware Multiple Products Privilege Escalation

> Local attackers can escalate privileges to root due to improper permissions in support scripts within VMware identity and automation products.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 15 Apr 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Apr 2022
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8r7c-vjv4-wp6x

## What is CVE-2022-22960?

CVE-2022-22960 is a high-severity vulnerability in Vmware Cloud Foundation, published on 13 Apr 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

VMware Workspace ONE Access, Identity Manager and vRealize Automation contain a privilege escalation vulnerability due to improper permissions in support scripts. A malicious actor with local access can escalate privileges to 'root'.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-22960?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Vmware Cloud Foundation, Vmware Identity Manager, Vmware Vrealize Automation, Vmware Vrealize Suite Lifecycle Manager, Vmware Workspace One Access.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-22960?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-22960 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 6 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2022-22960 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-22960 in the wild since at least 15 Apr 2022.

Public exploit code:

- VMware Workspace ONE Access CVE-2022-22960 (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in Vmware Cloud Foundation

- [CVE-2024-38812](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38812/): VMware vCenter Server Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-37079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37079/): Broadcom VMware vCenter Server Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-22954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22954/): VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager Server-Side Template Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22005](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22005/): VMware vCenter Server File Upload (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-21985](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21985/): VMware vCenter Server Improper Input Validation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-22960 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-22960 is a high-severity vulnerability in Vmware Cloud Foundation, published on 13 Apr 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-22960 in the wild since at least 15 Apr 2022.

Affected product: Vmware Cloud Foundation. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22960/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22960/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-22960
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22960
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-22960

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22960/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.