CVE-2020-4006: VMware Identity Manager RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2020-4006 Overview

CVE-2020-4006 is a command injection vulnerability affecting VMware Workspace One Access, Access Connector, Identity Manager, and Identity Manager Connector. This vulnerability allows an attacker with network access to the administrative configurator on port 8443 and a valid password for the configurator admin account to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system. The flaw exists in the administrative configurator component, which fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into system commands.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root-level privileges on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• VMware Identity Manager versions 3.3.1, 3.3.2, and 3.3.3
• VMware Identity Manager Connector versions 3.3.1, 3.3.2, and 3.3.3 (Linux and Windows)
• VMware Workspace ONE Access versions 20.01 and 20.10
• VMware Cloud Foundation versions 4.0 and 4.0.1
• VMware vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager (all versions)

Discovery Timeline

• November 23, 2020 - CVE-2020-4006 published to NVD
• October 30, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-4006

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2020-4006 is a command injection vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) present in the administrative configurator component of multiple VMware products. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation in the administrative web interface that listens on port 8443. When authenticated administrators submit configuration data through this interface, the application incorporates user-controlled input directly into operating system commands without proper sanitization.

The vulnerability requires an attacker to have network access to the administrative configurator on port 8443 and possess valid credentials for the configurator admin account. However, once these prerequisites are met, the attacker can inject arbitrary operating system commands that execute with the privileges of the underlying service, typically root on Linux systems or SYSTEM on Windows systems. The scope of this vulnerability extends beyond the vulnerable component itself, potentially affecting the confidentiality and integrity of the entire host system and any connected resources.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2020-4006 is improper input validation in the administrative configurator component. The application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to system shell commands. This allows an authenticated attacker to inject malicious shell metacharacters and commands that are subsequently executed by the operating system. The vulnerable code path exists in the web-based administrative interface, where configuration parameters are processed without proper escaping or validation against command injection patterns.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network by targeting the administrative configurator service on port 8443. The attacker must first obtain valid credentials for the configurator admin account through methods such as credential theft, brute force attacks, or social engineering. Once authenticated, the attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing specially formatted input that includes shell metacharacters and commands. When the server processes these requests, the injected commands are executed on the underlying operating system with elevated privileges, allowing the attacker to install backdoors, exfiltrate data, pivot to other systems, or perform any other actions permitted by the service account privileges.

The exploitation of this vulnerability in real-world attacks has been documented, with threat actors leveraging it to gain initial access to enterprise networks. The fact that this vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog underscores its significance and the importance of immediate remediation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-4006

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual network connections or traffic to/from port 8443 on affected VMware systems
• Unexpected processes spawned as child processes of the VMware Identity Manager or Workspace ONE Access services
• Suspicious entries in application and system logs indicating command execution attempts
• Unauthorized modifications to system configurations or creation of new administrative accounts
• Evidence of lateral movement originating from affected VMware infrastructure components

Detection Strategies

• Monitor authentication logs for the administrative configurator on port 8443 for failed login attempts or successful logins from unexpected IP addresses
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify potential command injection patterns in HTTP traffic to port 8443
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous process creation and command-line execution patterns on affected systems
• Enable and review application-level logging for VMware Identity Manager and Workspace ONE Access components

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SIEM rules to alert on multiple failed authentication attempts to the administrative configurator interface
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical system files and VMware application directories
• Enable verbose logging on affected VMware products and forward logs to centralized security monitoring systems
• Regularly audit user accounts and access permissions for the administrative configurator

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-4006

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the security patches provided by VMware as outlined in VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2020-0027 immediately
• Restrict network access to the administrative configurator on port 8443 to trusted management networks only
• Implement strong, unique passwords for the configurator admin account and rotate credentials
• Review system logs for any indicators of prior exploitation and conduct forensic analysis if compromise is suspected
• Consider temporarily disabling the administrative configurator if not actively required until patching is complete

Patch Information

VMware has released security patches to address CVE-2020-4006. Organizations should consult the VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2020-0027 for detailed patch instructions and download links specific to their product versions. The patches address the command injection vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and sanitization for user-supplied configuration data. Additional technical details are available from CERT Vulnerability Report #724367.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to isolate affected VMware systems and limit access to port 8443 from trusted administrative networks only
• Use firewall rules to block external access to the administrative configurator interface on port 8443
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for administrative access where supported
• Monitor and audit all administrative access to affected systems until patches can be applied
• Consider deploying a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block command injection attempts

# Example: Restrict access to administrative configurator using iptables
# Allow access only from trusted management subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8443 -j DROP