ESXi
CVE-2025-22226
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A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components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, read limits
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | High risk (CVSS 7.1). Part of the VMware triple zero-day set (with CVE-2025-22224 and -22225). Information disclosure can reveal host memory layout needed for exploiting the companion vulnerabilities. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker uses the HGFS info disclosure to map VMX process memory layout, then uses this information to reliably exploit CVE-2025-22224 (TOCTOU) and CVE-2025-22225 (kernel write) for complete host compromise. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026
VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion contain an information disclosure vulnerability via HGFS out-of-bounds read, allowing VM administrators to leak memory from the VMX process on the host.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
An out-of-bounds read in VMware's HGFS (Host-Guest File System) allows VM administrators to leak memory from the VMX process, potentially exposing sensitive data from other VMs or the host.
RemediationAI
Apply VMware patches for all three CVEs. Disable HGFS shared folders if not required. Restrict VM administrator access.
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-125 out-of-bounds read in HGFS shared folder functionality allows reading beyond allocated buffers. The leaked VMX process memory may contain data from other VMs, host memory contents, or cryptographic keys.
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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:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion contain an information disclosure vulnerability due to an out-of-bounds read in HGFS. A malicious actor with administrative privileges to a virtual machine may be able to exploit this issue to leak memory from the vmx process.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2025-22226 presents moderate security risk, a out-of-bounds read vulnerability rated CVSS 7.1. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. 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) Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure; (2) Enable enhanced monitoring and alerting; (3) Apply principle of least privilege.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
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.
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
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
VMware ESXi contains an arbitrary write vulnerability that allows privileged VMX process users to trigger kernel writes,
Untrusted search path vulnerability in the HGFS (aka Shared Folders) feature in VMware Tools 10.0.5 in VMware ESXi 5.0 t
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
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB