# CVE-2023-20890: Path traversal in Aria Operations for Networks

> Authenticated administrators can write arbitrary files leading to remote code execution in VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 1 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6gvx-4fmf-52xf

## What is CVE-2023-20890?

CVE-2023-20890 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Aria Operations for Networks, published on 29 Aug 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Aria Operations for Networks contains an arbitrary file write vulnerability. An authenticated malicious actor with administrative access to VMware Aria Operations for Networks can write files to arbitrary locations resulting in remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20890?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vmware Aria Operations for Networks.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20890?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20890 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-20890 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20890 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Aria Operations for Networks

- [CVE-2023-20887](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20887/): Vmware Aria Operations for Networks Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-34039](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34039/): Auth bypass in Aria Operations for Networks (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-22237](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22237/): Privilege escalation in VMware Aria Operations for Networks (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2024-22238](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22238/): Cross-site scripting in VMware Aria Operations for Networks (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2024-22239](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22239/): Privilege escalation in VMware Aria Operations for Networks (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-20890 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20890 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Aria Operations for Networks, published on 29 Aug 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20890 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Aria Operations for Networks. 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-2023-20890/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20890/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20890
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20890
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20890

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20890/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.