ESXi
CVE-2025-22225
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, write limits
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | High risk (CVSS 8.2). This vulnerability chains with CVE-2025-22224 for a complete guest-to-kernel exploitation path. Full kernel control on ESXi means access to all VMs, storage, and network configuration. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | After escaping the VM via CVE-2025-22224, the attacker exploits this arbitrary write to gain ESXi kernel access. Full kernel control enables modifying any VM's memory and disk, intercepting network traffic, and maintaining persistent access. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026
VMware ESXi contains an arbitrary write vulnerability that allows privileged VMX process users to trigger kernel writes, enabling escape from the VMX sandbox to the ESXi kernel.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
An arbitrary kernel write in VMware ESXi allows code executing within the VMX process to write to arbitrary kernel memory, escaping the VMX sandbox to gain ESXi kernel-level access.
RemediationAI
Apply VMware patches. Monitor ESXi for kernel integrity violations. Implement host-based monitoring for VMX process anomalies.
Affects your stack
Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The CWE-787 out-of-bounds write allows the VMX process (which manages VM execution) to write to ESXi kernel memory. This is the second stage after CVE-2025-22224, escalating from VMX process compromise to full ESXi host kernel control.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionNVD
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.
Executive ViewAI
Organizations using VMware ESXi face notable risk from CVE-2025-22225, a out-of-bounds write vulnerability rated CVSS 8.2. Exploitation could allow attackers to corrupt memory, crash the application, or potentially execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation. Immediate patching is required per CISA KEV mandate.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Enable ASLR and DEP where available; (2) Implement network segmentation; (3) Monitor for exploitation indicators.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
GitHub
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
OpenSLP as used in VMware ESXi (7.0 before ESXi_7.0.1-0.0.16850804, 6.7 before ESXi670-202010401-SG, 6.5 before ESXi650-
VMware ESXi and Workstation contain a TOCTOU race condition leading to out-of-bounds write, allowing local administrator
Systems with microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and branch prediction may allow unauthorized disclosure of
Untrusted search path vulnerability in the HGFS (aka Shared Folders) feature in VMware Tools 10.0.5 in VMware ESXi 5.0 t
VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion contain an information disclosure vulnerability via HGFS out-of-bounds read, allowi
OpenSLP as used in ESXi and the Horizon DaaS appliances has a heap overwrite issue. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8),
In the add_match function in libbb/lineedit.c in BusyBox through 1.27.2, the tab autocomplete feature of the shell, used
VMware ESXi (ESXi 6.5 without patch ESXi650-201707101-SG), Workstation (12.x before 12.5.7) and Fusion (8.x before 8.5.8
The Service Location Protocol (SLP, RFC 2608) allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to register arbitrary services.
The Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI) implementation in vmci.sys in VMware Workstation 8.x before 8.0.5 and
VMware ESXi (6.5 before ESXi650-201710401-BG), Workstation (12.x before 12.5.8), and Fusion (8.x before 8.5.9) contain a
VMware ESXi 6.5 without patch ESXi650-201703410-SG, 6.0 U3 without patch ESXi600-201703401-SG, 6.0 U2 without patch ESXi
Exploit-DB