# CVE-2023-34039: Auth bypass in Aria Operations for Networks

> Attackers can bypass SSH authentication to access the CLI due to weak cryptographic key generation, requiring immediate patching.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hvfm-xp6c-5fc9

## What is CVE-2023-34039?

CVE-2023-34039 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Aria Operations for Networks, published on 29 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Aria Operations for Networks contains an Authentication Bypass vulnerability due to a lack of unique cryptographic key generation. A malicious actor with network access to Aria Operations for Networks could bypass SSH authentication to gain access to the Aria Operations for Networks CLI.

Weakness: CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-34039?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vmware Aria Operations for Networks.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-34039?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-34039 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-34039 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-34039 exists.

Public exploit code:

- VMWare Aria Operations for Networks (vRealize Network Insight) Static SSH key RCE (CVE-2023-34039) (github_poc): https://github.com/sinsinology/CVE-2023-34039
- Here it is, the VMware newest exploit (github_poc): https://github.com/Cyb3rEnthusiast/CVE-2023-34039
- CVE-2023-34039 (github_poc): https://github.com/syedhafiz1234/CVE-2023-34039
- VMWare Aria Operations for Networks (vRealize Network Insight) SSH Private Key Exposure (metasploit)
- VMware exploit (github_poc): https://github.com/CharonDefalt/CVE-2023-34039
- exp (github_poc): https://github.com/adminxb/CVE-2023-34039

## 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-2024-22237](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22237/): Privilege escalation in VMware Aria Operations for Networks (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-20890](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20890/): Path traversal in Aria Operations for Networks (high 7.2)
- [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-2023-34039 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-34039 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Aria Operations for Networks, published on 29 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-34039 exists.

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-2023-34039/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34039/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-34039
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-34039
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-34039

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34039/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.