VMware Workspace ONE Access - Authentication Bypass (CVE-2022-22956)

CVE-2022-22956 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in VMware Workspace ONE Access, specifically within the OAuth2 ACS framework. This flaw allows attackers to exploit exposed endpoints to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary operations, potentially leading to full system compromise.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 29th of October 2025.

CrowdSec network observations suggest that most exploitation of CVE-2022-22956 involves focused reconnaissance to identify viable targets. Attackers typically tailor their campaigns based on system exposure and configuration. It is unlikely that a given attack is accidental. Data from the CrowdSec community also indicates a gradual decrease in attacks targeting CVE-2022-22956. While still present in the wild, exploitation levels have dropped noticeably week-over-week. This may signal that the vulnerability is becoming less relevant or that defenses are improving fast enough for attackers to lose interest.

Attackers exploit authentication bypass vulnerabilities by sending crafted POST requests to endpoints such as /SAAS/API/1.0/REST/oauth2/generateActivationToken/Service__OAuth2Client, /SAAS/API/1.0/REST/oauth2/activate, and /SAAS/auth/oauthtoken to obtain unauthorized access tokens and perform privileged operations.