Broadcom has released a critical security advisory addressing multiple vulnerabilities in VMware Aria Operations that could allow remote code execution, stored cross-site scripting (XSS), and privilege escalation in affected environments.
According to the official advisory – VMSA-2026-0001 – the flaws impact several widely deployed enterprise platforms, including VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware Telco Cloud solutions.
The advisory, published on February 24, 2026, is currently marked OPEN and carries CVSS scores ranging from 6.2 to 8.1, placing the most severe vulnerability in the high-risk category.
What’s Affected?
Broadcom confirmed that the following products are impacted:
- VMware Aria Operations
- VMware Cloud Foundation
- VMware Telco Cloud Platform
- VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure
Organizations running VMware Cloud Foundation Operations 9.x, Aria Operations 8.x, and certain Telco Cloud versions are urged to review patch guidance immediately.
Breakdown of the Vulnerabilities
1- CVE-2026-22719 – Command Injection (CVSS 8.1 – High)
This is the most severe issue in the advisory.
A malicious unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability during a support-assisted product migration process to execute arbitrary commands. In practical terms, this could lead to remote code execution (RCE), one of the most dangerous classes of security flaws.
Broadcom rates this vulnerability as “Important” with a maximum CVSSv3 score of 8.1.
2- CVE-2026-22720 – Stored Cross-Site Scripting (CVSS 8.0 – High)
This stored XSS vulnerability allows a malicious actor with permissions to create custom benchmarks to inject scripts that may execute administrative actions inside VMware Aria Operations.
While exploitation requires authenticated access, the impact could compromise administrative integrity and sensitive operational workflows.
Broadcom credited Tobias Anders of Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH for responsibly reporting the issue.
3- CVE-2026-22721 – Privilege Escalation (CVSS 6.2 – Moderate)
This vulnerability could allow a malicious actor with vCenter privileges to elevate access rights within Aria Operations.
Though rated moderate, privilege escalation flaws often serve as stepping stones in multi-stage attacks.
Broadcom acknowledged Sven Nobis and Lorin Lehawany of ERNW Enno Rey Netzwerke GmbH for reporting this issue.
Patches and Fixed Versions
Broadcom has released updates to address all three vulnerabilities:
- VMware Aria Operations 8.18.6
- VMware Cloud Foundation Operations 9.0.2.0
- Relevant KB patches for VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x/5.x and Telco Cloud deployments
Organizations should consult the official advisory for their specific product version and apply the listed fixed releases without delay.
Why This Matters Globally
VMware Aria Operations plays a central role in enterprise monitoring, automation, and infrastructure visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
From telecom operators in Africa to financial institutions in Europe and hyperscale deployments in Asia and North America, VMware ecosystems underpin mission-critical workloads.
Command injection and privilege escalation flaws in infrastructure management platforms represent high-value targets for threat actors, especially in environments managing:
- Cloud orchestration
- Telco core networks
- Enterprise virtualization
- Managed service provider infrastructure
Even though there is no public evidence of active exploitation at the time of publication, attackers frequently weaponize infrastructure vulnerabilities shortly after disclosure.
10 Recommended Security Actions
Security teams should immediately take the following steps:
- Apply the latest patches for affected VMware products.
- Review migration workflows, particularly support-assisted processes.
- Audit user privileges within Aria Operations and vCenter.
- Implement least-privilege access controls across virtualization platforms.
- Monitor logs for suspicious command execution attempts.
- Inspect benchmark configurations for unauthorized script injections.
- Validate API and administrative activity during the past 30 days.
- Segment management interfaces from general user networks.
- Conduct vulnerability scanning across virtualization infrastructure.
- Strengthen continuous monitoring and threat detection, ideally through a trusted cybersecurity partner such as Saintynet Cybersecurity (saintynet.com) for advanced advisory and infrastructure hardening support.
Additionally, organizations should reinforce security awareness and technical training programs – available – to ensure teams can detect exploitation patterns early.
Broader Industry Implications
This advisory reinforces a critical reality: infrastructure management platforms are increasingly becoming high-value targets.
As virtualization and cloud-native operations expand, attackers are shifting focus toward:
- Orchestration layers
- Monitoring platforms
- DevOps management tools
- Telco cloud controllers
These systems, if compromised, can provide lateral movement pathways into entire enterprise environments.
For readers interested in strengthening virtualization security posture, see our previous coverage on securing enterprise infrastructure environments.
Conclusion
Broadcom’s VMSA-2026-0001 advisory highlights three important vulnerabilities in VMware Aria Operations and related platforms — including a high-severity command injection flaw that could lead to remote code execution.
While patches are available, the risk window between disclosure and full enterprise remediation is often when exploitation occurs.
Organizations running VMware environments should prioritize patching, audit access controls, and enhance monitoring immediately.
CyberCory will continue monitoring developments and provide updates if exploitation activity emerges or additional mitigation guidance is released.
