Which products and versions are affected by CVE-2020-3950?

Affected: Fusion (Vmware); Horizon Client (Vmware); Remote Console (Vmware), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.

Is CVE-2020-3950 being exploited in the wild?

It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 3, 2021.

Is CVE-2020-3950 in the CISA KEV catalog?

Yes. It was added on Nov 3, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of May 3, 2022.

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2020-3950?

Public exploit code is available.

Is there a fix for CVE-2020-3950?

Fixed versions are available, including Fusion 11.5.2, Horizon Client 5.4.0, Remote Console 11.0.1.

How urgently should CVE-2020-3950 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2020-3950

HighExploitedPublic exploit

Published Mar 17, 2020 · Updated Oct 30, 2025

Key Facts

Patch immediately

CVE-2020-3950 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8 v3.1) affecting Fusion (Vmware), Horizon Client (Vmware), Remote Console (Vmware) and 1 more product.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 3, 2021. Public exploit code is available.
EPSS estimates a 7.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
Fixed versions are available, including Fusion 11.5.2, Horizon Client 5.4.0, Remote Console 11.0.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

7.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

7.3%

Higher than 94.2% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2020-3950 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

VMware Fusion (11.x before 11.5.2), VMware Remote Console for Mac (11.x and prior before 11.0.1) and Horizon Client for Mac (5.x and prior before 5.4.0) contain a privilege escalation vulnerability due to improper use of setuid binaries. Successful exploitation of this issue may allow attackers with normal user privileges to escalate their privileges to root on the system where Fusion, VMRC or Horizon Client is installed.

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

Catalog	Added	Remediation due	Ransomware use
CISA KEV	Nov 3, 2021	May 3, 2022	Not reported
Industry KEV feed	Nov 3, 2021	May 3, 2022	Not reported
CIRCL KEV	Nov 3, 2021	May 3, 2022	Not reported
ENISA EUVD	Nov 3, 2021	n/a	Not reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

4 affected entries in total

Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
FusionVmware	See advisory	11.5.2
Horizon ClientVmware	See advisory	5.4.0
Remote ConsoleVmware	See advisory	11.0.1
VMware Fusion, VMware Remote Console for Mac and Horizon Client for Mac	>= VMware Fusion (11.x before 11.5.2), VMware Remote Console for Mac (11.x and prior before 11.0.1) and Horizon Client for Mac (5.x and prior before 5.4.0)	n/a

Patched Releases

Fusion

11.5.2

Horizon Client

5.4.0

Remote Console

11.0.1

Timeline

Publicly disclosed
Mar 17, 2020
Added to CISA KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to Industry KEV feed
Nov 3, 2021
Added to CIRCL KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to ENISA EUVD
Nov 3, 2021
Last updated
Oct 30, 2025

Weakness Type

CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management

References

3 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

VMware Fusion (11.x before 11.5.2), VMware Remote Console for Mac (11.x and prior before 11.0.1) and Horizon Client for Mac (5.x and prior before 5.4.0) contain a privilege escalation vulnerability due to improper use of setuid binaries.
Affected: Fusion (Vmware); Horizon Client (Vmware); Remote Console (Vmware), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 3, 2021.
Yes. It was added on Nov 3, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of May 3, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Fusion 11.5.2, Horizon Client 5.4.0, Remote Console 11.0.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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