CVE-2024-22274: VMware Cloud Foundation RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-22274 Overview

CVE-2024-22274 is an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability affecting VMware vCenter Server, a critical component used for centralized management of VMware vSphere environments. A malicious actor with administrative privileges on the vCenter appliance shell may exploit this issue to run arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability enables authenticated attackers with administrative access to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of vCenter Server, potentially compromising the entire virtualization infrastructure.

Affected Products

• VMware vCenter Server 7.0 (all updates through 7.0 Update 3p)
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0 (all updates through 8.0 Update 2a)
• VMware Cloud Foundation (multiple versions)

Discovery Timeline

• May 21, 2024 - CVE-2024-22274 published to NVD
• June 27, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-22274

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code, also known as Code Injection). The flaw exists within the vCenter Server appliance shell interface, where insufficient input validation or improper handling of commands allows authenticated administrators to escape the intended command context and execute arbitrary system-level commands.

While the vulnerability requires high privileges (administrative access to the appliance shell), the impact is significant because it allows attackers to break out of the restricted appliance shell environment and gain direct access to the underlying Photon OS operating system. This level of access could enable attackers to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, pivot to managed ESXi hosts, or disrupt the entire virtual infrastructure.

The vulnerability has a notably high EPSS score of 65.683% (98th percentile), indicating a substantial likelihood of exploitation in the wild, making timely patching critical.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-22274 is improper control of code generation (CWE-94) within the vCenter appliance shell. The shell is designed to provide a restricted administrative interface, but the vulnerability allows authenticated administrators to inject and execute arbitrary commands that bypass these restrictions, gaining direct access to the underlying operating system.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring authenticated access to the vCenter appliance shell with administrative privileges. An attacker who has compromised administrator credentials or has legitimate administrative access could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input that escapes the restricted shell environment. Once arbitrary command execution is achieved, the attacker gains control over the underlying Photon OS operating system, enabling a wide range of post-exploitation activities including persistence mechanisms, lateral movement to ESXi hosts, and data exfiltration.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-22274

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual process execution originating from the vCenter appliance shell context
• Unexpected command executions running as root on the vCenter appliance
• Suspicious network connections initiated from the vCenter Server to unknown external hosts
• Unauthorized modifications to system files or creation of new user accounts on the appliance

Detection Strategies

• Monitor vCenter appliance shell access logs for unusual command patterns or escape sequences
• Implement alerting on unexpected processes spawned by vCenter services
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on vCenter appliances to identify malicious activity
• Review authentication logs for compromised or misused administrative credentials

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for vCenter appliance shell sessions
• Configure SIEM correlation rules to detect privilege escalation patterns on vCenter infrastructure
• Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on critical vCenter system directories
• Establish baseline behavior for vCenter administrative activities and alert on deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-22274

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest security patches from VMware/Broadcom immediately
• Audit all administrative accounts with access to the vCenter appliance shell
• Review and restrict network access to the vCenter management interface
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative access

Patch Information

VMware (now Broadcom) has released security patches addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Broadcom Security Advisory #24308 for specific patch versions and update instructions. Ensure that vCenter Server is updated to the patched versions as specified in the advisory for both the 7.0 and 8.0 release branches.

Workarounds

• Restrict appliance shell access to only essential personnel and implement strict access controls
• Implement network segmentation to limit access to vCenter management interfaces
• Monitor and audit all administrative access to vCenter appliances pending patch application
• Consider temporarily disabling appliance shell access if not operationally required

# Verify current vCenter Server version
/opt/vmware/bin/vcenter-server --version

# Check for pending updates via VAMI
# Access https://<vcenter-fqdn>:5480 and navigate to Update section

# Restrict appliance shell access by limiting SSH access
# Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config to restrict allowed users
AllowUsers admin@192.168.1.0/24