VMware Server Side Template Injection Hunt

name: VMware Server Side Template Injection Hunt
id: 5796b570-ad12-44df-b1b5-b7e6ae3aabb0
version: 7
date: '2026-03-23'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: Hunting
description: |
    The following analytic identifies potential server-side template injection attempts related to CVE-2022-22954.
    It detects suspicious URL patterns containing "deviceudid" and keywords like "java.lang.ProcessBuilder" or "freemarker.template.utility.ObjectConstructor" using web or proxy logs within the Web Datamodel.
    This activity is significant as it may indicate an attempt to exploit a known vulnerability in VMware, potentially leading to remote code execution.
    If confirmed malicious, attackers could gain unauthorized access, execute arbitrary code, and compromise the affected system, posing a severe security risk.
data_source:
    - Palo Alto Network Threat
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly`
             count min(_time) as firstTime
                   max(_time) as lastTime

    FROM datamodel=Web WHERE

    Web.http_method="GET"
    Web.url="*deviceudid=*"
    Web.url IN (
        "*freemarker.template.utility.ObjectConstructor*",
        "*java.lang.ProcessBuilder*"
    )
    BY Web.http_user_agent Web.status
       Web.http_method Web.url Web.url_length
       Web.src Web.dest
    | `drop_dm_object_name("Web")`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `vmware_server_side_template_injection_hunt_filter`
how_to_implement: |
    To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting web or proxy logs, or ensure it is being filled by a proxy like device, into the Web Datamodel. For additional filtering, allow list private IP space or restrict by known good.
known_false_positives: |
    False positives may be present if the activity is blocked or was not successful. Filter known vulnerability scanners. Filter as needed.
references:
    - https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/alerts/aa22-138b
    - https://github.com/wvu/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/vmware_workspace_one_access_cve_2022_22954.rb
    - https://github.com/sherlocksecurity/VMware-CVE-2022-22954
    - https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0011.html
    - https://attackerkb.com/topics/BDXyTqY1ld/cve-2022-22954/rapid7-analysis
    - https://twitter.com/wvuuuuuuuuuuuuu/status/1519476924757778433
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - VMware Server Side Injection and Privilege Escalation
    asset_type: Web Server
    cve:
        - CVE-2022-22954
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1190
        - T1133
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: network
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1190/vmware/vmware_scanning_pan_threat.log
          source: not_applicable
          sourcetype: pan:threat