# CVE-2023-34048: VMware vCenter Server - RCE

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-34048 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-34048

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation (VMware vCenter Server)
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)
- **Tags:** enterprise_software

## Description

vCenter Server contains an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the implementation of the DCERPC protocol. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter Server may trigger an out-of-bounds write potentially leading to remote code execution.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-34048](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-34048) is a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability in VMware vCenter Server's DCERPC protocol implementation, which can be exploited remotely by attackers with network access. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, potentially leading to full system compromise and further attacks within the network.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 26th of November 2025.

CrowdSec has not observed any significant exploitation activity targeting CVE-2023-34048 across its network. As a result, no community-driven trend analysis is available for this vulnerability at this time.

Attackers exploit the vCenter Server DCERPC protocol by sending crafted requests to endpoints such as `/sdk/`, often using SOAP payloads, to trigger remote code execution vulnerabilities. Observed exploitation attempts typically target the `/sdk/` path on vCenter Server instances.

## Timeline

- 2023-10-25: CVE Published. CVE-2023-34048 is published to NVD.
- 2024-01-22: CISA KEV. CVE-2023-34048 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2024-02-12: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2025-11-26: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-34048 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.

## References

- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/understanding-cve-2023-34048-a-zero-day-out-of-bound-write-in-vcenter-server
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0023.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-34048
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-34048.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-34048) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-34048. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.