On February 24, 2026, Broadcom released security advisory VMSA-2026-0001, detailing critical vulnerabilities in VMware Aria Operations that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges.
For CISOs, cloud architects, and IT administrators, these vulnerabilities pose a serious threat to environments running VMware Cloud Foundation, Telco Cloud Platform, and Telco Cloud Infrastructure. Prompt patching and verification are essential to prevent exploitation.
This article explores the three disclosed CVEs, their impact, affected versions, and recommended mitigation steps.
Overview of VMware Aria Operations Vulnerabilities
Three key vulnerabilities were disclosed:
| CVE | Description | CVSS Score | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-22719 | Command injection during support-assisted migrations | 8.1 | Allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands (RCE) |
| CVE-2026-22720 | Stored cross-site scripting (XSS) via custom benchmarks | 8.0 | Enables privileged users to inject scripts for administrative actions |
| CVE-2026-22721 | Privilege escalation in Aria Operations | 6.2 | Allows vCenter users to gain admin rights in Aria Operations |
Critical Insight: CVE-2026-22719 is the most severe, potentially allowing full remote code execution without authentication during product migrations.
How the Vulnerabilities Work
CVE-2026-22719 – Command Injection
- Triggered during support-assisted migrations of VMware Aria Operations.
- Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary commands, potentially compromising the entire cloud environment.
- Exploitation risk is high for multi-tenant deployments, where one compromised instance could affect multiple workloads.
CVE-2026-22720 – Stored XSS
- Allows privileged users to create custom benchmarks containing malicious scripts.
- Injected scripts can execute administrative actions without further authentication.
- Attackers can use XSS to pivot within the environment, escalating privileges or accessing sensitive data.
CVE-2026-22721 – Privilege Escalation
- Enables vCenter users with limited access to escalate to full admin rights in VMware Aria Operations.
- Exploitation could result in unauthorized configuration changes, data exfiltration, or lateral movement.
Affected Versions and Patch Information
| Product | Component | Affected Versions | Fixed Version | Workaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMware Cloud Foundation | vSphere Foundation / Aria Operations | 9.x | 9.0.2.0 | KB430349 (CVE-2026-22719) |
| VMware Aria Operations | N/A | 8.x | 8.18.6 | KB430349 (CVE-2026-22719) |
| VMware Cloud Foundation | Aria Operations | 5.x, 4.x | KB92148 | KB430349 (CVE-2026-22719) |
| VMware Telco Cloud Platform | Aria Operations | 5.x, 4.x | KB428241 | KB430349 (CVE-2026-22719) |
| VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure | Aria Operations | 3.x, 2.x | KB428241 | KB430349 (CVE-2026-22719) |
Important: Only CVE-2026-22719 has a partial workaround via KB430349; all other vulnerabilities require immediate upgrades to patched versions.
Risk Assessment and Impact
- Remote Code Execution (RCE): CVE-2026-22719 could allow full compromise of cloud operations.
- Privilege Escalation: CVE-2026-22721 enables lateral movement by low-privileged users.
- Administrative Access Abuse: CVE-2026-22720 allows malicious scripts to manipulate benchmarks and system configurations.
Business Implications:
- Multi-tenant cloud platforms could experience cross-tenant compromise.
- Unpatched systems could face data exfiltration, service disruption, or ransomware deployment.
Mitigation and Best Practices
- Patch Immediately: Upgrade to the latest fixed versions (e.g., Aria Operations 8.18.6, Cloud Foundation 9.0.2.0).
- Verify Deployments: Check all VMware Aria Operations instances against the affected version matrix.
- Apply Workarounds Where Possible: Use KB430349 for CVE-2026-22719 if patching is delayed.
- Restrict Access: Limit support-assisted migration capabilities to trusted personnel.
- Audit Privileged Users: Review vCenter and administrative accounts for unusual activity.
- Monitor Logs: Track changes to benchmarks, administrative scripts, and migration activities for suspicious behavior.
Expert Insights
- Severity Perspective: While all vulnerabilities are rated “Important,” CVE-2026-22719 carries the highest risk due to unauthenticated RCE potential.
- Compliance Relevance: Enterprises under SOC 2, ISO 27001, or GDPR must prioritize patching to maintain compliance.
- Incident Response: Maintain a rollback and incident plan for migration procedures, ensuring rapid containment if exploitation is attempted.
Acknowledgements: Credit goes to Tobias Anders (Deutsche Telekom Security), Sven Nobis, and Lorin Lehawany (ERNW) for reporting these vulnerabilities.
FAQs
1. Which VMware products are impacted?
VMware Aria Operations, VMware Cloud Foundation, Telco Cloud Platform, and Telco Cloud Infrastructure across multiple versions (2.x–9.x).
2. Which vulnerability poses the highest risk?
CVE-2026-22719, allowing unauthenticated remote code execution during product migrations.
3. Are workarounds available?
Only for CVE-2026-22719 via KB430349. Other vulnerabilities require patching.
4. How should organizations mitigate risk?
Patch immediately, verify versions, restrict migration operations, audit privileged accounts, and monitor logs.
5. What could happen if vulnerabilities are exploited?
Potential full system compromise, privilege escalation, configuration manipulation, data exfiltration, and service disruption.
Conclusion
The VMware Aria Operations vulnerabilities highlight the critical need for proactive patch management in cloud and virtualization environments. Organizations should audit deployments, apply patches promptly, and monitor privileged operations to prevent exploitation.
Next Step: Prioritize upgrades to patched versions, restrict access to migration workflows, and implement continuous monitoring to secure VMware Aria environments against RCE and privilege escalation attacks.
