Yes—if VMware’s deprecated Enhanced Authentication Plug-in (EAP) is installed on a Windows endpoint, Broadcom recommends removing both EAP components. The February 2024 VMSA-2024-0003 advisory describes a critical authentication-relay flaw that can put Active Directory accounts at risk, plus a separate session-hijack flaw. EAP is not a required vCenter Server or ESXi component, so check endpoint installations rather than assuming every VMware environment is affected.
What the VMware EAP alert means
EAP is deprecated endpoint software used for browser-based authentication to VMware systems. The affected setup has two components: VMware Enhanced Authentication Plug-in 6.7.0, the browser/client component, and the Windows VMware Plug-in Service.
In VMSA-2024-0003, Broadcom describes two vulnerabilities:
- CVE-2024-22245 (CVSSv3 9.6, Critical): An attacker may trick a target domain user who has EAP installed in their browser into requesting and relaying service tickets for arbitrary Active Directory Service Principal Names (SPNs). This is an authentication-relay risk; it does not mean every Active Directory account or VMware deployment is automatically compromised.
- CVE-2024-22250 (CVSSv3 7.8, Important): An attacker with unprivileged local access to a Windows system may hijack a privileged EAP session initiated by a privileged domain user on that same system.
The scores are Broadcom’s maximum CVSSv3 base scores in its 2024 advisory. Broadcom lists no workaround for either issue and directs administrators to remove EAP.
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Which systems need to be checked?
EAP was deprecated with vCenter Server 7.0 Update 2 in 2021. It is not included by default in vCenter Server, ESXi, or Cloud Foundation. The exposure is therefore about whether the plug-in is installed on Windows endpoints—not simply whether an organization runs VMware infrastructure.
Check the Windows computers used by administrators and other users who authenticate to VMware systems, including managed endpoints that may not be covered by a server inventory. Do not treat the presence of vCenter or ESXi as proof that EAP is installed, or as proof that no endpoint has it.
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How to remove EAP from Windows endpoints
Broadcom’s recommended action is to remove both applications wherever they are present. Its KB 316399 describes detection using Windows WMI/PowerShell and removal of the browser/client component and VMware Plug-in Service. Use that KB for the vendor’s exact detection and command procedure; no PowerShell command should be guessed or substituted for it.
- Inventory endpoints. Use your endpoint-management inventory or the WMI/PowerShell detection procedure in Broadcom KB 316399 to identify systems with either EAP component.
- Uninstall the browser/client component. On an unmanaged Windows PC, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and look for VMware Enhanced Authentication Plug-in 6.7.0. On Windows versions that use the older interface, check Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. On managed endpoints, use your organization’s approved software-removal method.
- Uninstall the service component. Remove VMware Plug-in Service as well. Removing only the browser/client component does not complete Broadcom’s recommended remediation.
- Verify removal. Re-run the KB 316399 detection procedure across managed Windows endpoints and confirm that neither component remains. Track systems that are offline or unreachable and verify them when they return to management.
If either item is absent from the normal app list or uninstalling it fails, use the detection and removal guidance in KB 316399 and your endpoint-management process rather than deleting service files or registry entries by hand.
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What can replace EAP?
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore names Active Directory over LDAPS, Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), Okta, and Microsoft Entra ID as alternatives to consider. They are different approaches, not drop-in replacements with an established universal winner. The right choice depends on the application’s supported authentication methods and the organization’s directory and identity architecture.
| Option | Directory or protocol fit | Typical deployment consideration | Administration, user experience, and licensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Directory over LDAPS | Uses LDAP over TLS to connect with Active Directory. | Consider it where applications can authenticate against the organization’s directory using LDAPS. | Certificate and directory configuration need to be managed. User experience and licensing depend on the application and existing environment. |
| Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) | Federation option for organizations using Active Directory. | Evaluate whether the application supports the federation flow and whether an organization-managed federation deployment fits its architecture. | Requires operating and maintaining the federation service. User experience and licensing depend on configuration and existing arrangements. |
| Okta | Identity-provider option; assess its integration with the organization’s directory and the application. | Consider the organization’s identity-provider architecture and the application’s supported sign-in protocols. | Administration, user experience, and licensing vary by deployment and plan; confirm requirements with the provider. |
| Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft identity-provider option; assess how it connects to existing directories and the application. | Consider the organization’s cloud or hybrid identity architecture and application support. | Administration, user experience, and licensing depend on configuration and plan; confirm requirements for the intended use. |
The Singapore agency lists these alternatives but does not rank them or provide a head-to-head comparison. Before choosing one, confirm what the VMware-facing application supports, how the option integrates with existing directory services, where it will be deployed, who will operate it, what sign-in experience users need, and which licensing applies.
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