CVE-2022-22957: VMware Cloud Foundation RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2022-22957 Overview

CVE-2022-22957 is a critical insecure deserialization vulnerability affecting VMware Workspace ONE Access, Identity Manager, and vRealize Automation. A malicious actor with administrative access can trigger deserialization of untrusted data through malicious JDBC URI which may result in remote code execution. This vulnerability, along with CVE-2022-22958, represents a significant threat to enterprise identity and automation infrastructure.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers with administrative privileges can achieve remote code execution on affected VMware identity management and automation systems through JDBC URI manipulation, potentially compromising entire virtualization environments.

Affected Products

• VMware Workspace ONE Access (versions 20.10.0.0, 20.10.0.1, 21.08.0.0, 21.08.0.1)
• VMware Identity Manager (versions 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5, 3.3.6)
• VMware vRealize Automation (version 7.6 and others)
• VMware Cloud Foundation
• VMware vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager
• Linux kernel (as underlying platform)

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-04-13 - CVE-2022-22957 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-22957

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data). The affected VMware products fail to properly validate or sanitize JDBC connection URIs before processing them. When an authenticated administrator configures database connectivity settings, the application deserializes data from the JDBC URI without adequate security controls.

The deserialization process can be manipulated to instantiate arbitrary Java objects, leading to remote code execution. While the vulnerability requires administrative access to exploit, organizations relying on these products for identity federation and access management face significant risk if administrator credentials are compromised or if insider threats exist.

The network-based attack vector with no required user interaction beyond initial authentication makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where VMware identity solutions manage access to critical resources.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the improper handling of JDBC URI parameters during database connection configuration. The application deserializes objects embedded in the JDBC URI string without implementing proper type constraints or input validation. Java deserialization vulnerabilities of this nature typically allow attackers to craft malicious serialized objects that execute arbitrary code when deserialized by the vulnerable application.

Attack Vector

The attack requires network access to the administrative interface of the affected VMware products. An attacker with valid administrative credentials can craft a malicious JDBC URI containing serialized Java objects. When the application processes this URI during database configuration, it deserializes the embedded objects, triggering code execution with the privileges of the application service account.

The exploitation flow involves:

1. Authenticating to the administrative console with valid credentials
2. Navigating to database configuration settings
3. Injecting a malicious JDBC URI containing a serialized Java gadget chain
4. The application deserializing the malicious payload during URI processing
5. Arbitrary code executing on the underlying server

For technical details on exploitation methods, see the Packet Storm security analysis and the VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2022-0011.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-22957

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual JDBC connection strings in application configuration containing encoded or obfuscated payloads
• Unexpected process spawning from VMware identity or automation service accounts
• Suspicious outbound network connections originating from VMware Workspace ONE Access or Identity Manager servers
• Anomalous Java serialization activity in application logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor administrative console access logs for unusual JDBC configuration changes
• Deploy network intrusion detection signatures for known Java deserialization exploitation patterns
• Implement file integrity monitoring on VMware product configuration directories
• Enable verbose logging for database connector configuration activities

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline administrative activity patterns and alert on deviations
• Configure SIEM rules to correlate administrative authentication with subsequent JDBC configuration changes
• Monitor for unexpected command execution or shell spawning from Java processes
• Track outbound connections from affected systems to identify potential command-and-control activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-22957

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply VMware security patches as detailed in VMSA-2022-0011 immediately
• Audit administrative accounts and enforce multi-factor authentication
• Review recent JDBC configuration changes for signs of exploitation
• Restrict network access to administrative interfaces using firewall rules

Patch Information

VMware has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2022-0011 for specific patch versions and installation instructions. Ensure all affected products including Workspace ONE Access, Identity Manager, vRealize Automation, Cloud Foundation, and vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager are updated to patched versions.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces
• Enforce principle of least privilege for administrative accounts
• Deploy application-layer firewalls to inspect and filter malicious JDBC URI patterns
• Consider temporarily disabling JDBC configuration capabilities until patches are applied if operationally feasible

# Network segmentation example - restrict admin interface access
# Add firewall rules to limit administrative console access to trusted networks only
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8443 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8443 -j DROP