CVE-2025-22225
VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 25 March 2025). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
VMware ESXi contains an arbitrary write vulnerability. A malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process may trigger an arbitrary kernel write leading to an escape of the sandbox.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.2 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 1.00% probability · 61th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Listed 4 March 2025 · due 25 March 2025 · used in ransomware campaigns
- Weakness
- CWE-787, CWE-123
- Affected
- vmware/esxi · vmware/cloud foundation · vmware/telco cloud infrastructure · vmware/telco cloud platform
- Source
- security@vmware.com
CISA notes
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/25390 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22225
References
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.