CVE-2022-22973 in Workspace ONE Access
Summary
by MITRE • 05/21/2022
VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager contain a privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious actor with local access can escalate privileges to 'root'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22973 affects VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager platforms, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows local attackers to elevate their access rights to root level. This vulnerability stems from inadequate privilege management controls within the affected VMware products, creating a pathway for malicious actors who already possess local system access to gain unauthorized administrative privileges. The flaw specifically targets the privilege escalation mechanisms implemented within these identity management solutions, which are designed to manage user authentication and access control for enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of privilege levels during system operations, where local user sessions fail to properly enforce security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized elevation to root access. According to CWE classification, this represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that falls under the category of insufficient privilege checks or improper privilege management. The vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the system's access control implementation, where the underlying mechanisms that should maintain strict separation between user and administrative privileges are bypassed through local system access. Attackers can leverage this flaw by executing specific commands or processes that manipulate the privilege escalation pathways within the VMware Workspace ONE environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-22973 extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of organizations relying on VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager for their identity management needs. Once an attacker achieves root-level access, they can manipulate system configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the affected infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise identity management systems, potentially leading to widespread compromise of user credentials and access tokens managed by these platforms. The attack vector requires only local system access, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already gained initial foothold through other means.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying VMware's security patches and updates as released, conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their Workspace ONE deployments, and implementing additional access controls such as mandatory access controls and privilege monitoring. The mitigation strategy should align with ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly focusing on preventing local privilege escalation through system binary manipulation and credential access. Security teams must also review and harden the local system access controls, implement robust monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation activities, and establish clear separation of duties for system administrators. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while also ensuring that all system components are regularly updated and patched according to VMware's security advisories.