VMware ESXi OpenSLP Use-After-Free Vulnerability
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 ESXi650-202010401-SG) has a use-after-free issue. A malicious actor residing in the management network who has access to port…
Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.
Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST
Exploitation signals 5 / 5
- KEV catalog (CISA)03 Nov 2021
- Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)03 Nov 2021
- Used by ransomwareyes
- EPSS above 10 %83.0%
- No account, over the networkyes
What to do
Fix
Apply the vendor’s fix as soon as it is available.
CISA guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Meanwhile
Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.
Manufacturers (CRA)
Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained
Description ENISA EUVD
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 ESXi650-202010401-SG) has a use-after-free issue. A malicious actor residing in the management network who has access to port 427 on an ESXi machine may be able to trigger a use-after-free in the OpenSLP service resulting in remote code execution.
Affected products
- VMware ESXi (7.0 before ESXi_7.0.1-0.0.16850804, 6.7 before ESXi670-202010401-SG, 6.5 before ESXi650-202010401-SG)
Open source packages OSV
Affected libraries according to OSV, with fixed versions.
Timeline
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Published
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Exploitation reported (ENISA)
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Added to the KEV catalog
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CISA remediation due date
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EPSS peak: 83.0%
References
Other exploited vulnerabilities from the same vendor
- CVE-2025-22226VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion Information Disclosure Vulnerability4.1 · Background exploitation
- CVE-2025-22225VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability5.1 · Background exploitation
- CVE-2025-22224VMware ESXi and Workstation TOCTOU Race Condition Vulnerability5.0 · Background exploitation
- CVE-2024-38813VMware vCenter Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability5.3 · Background exploitation
- CVE-2024-38812VMware vCenter Server Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability8.0 · Background exploitation
- CVE-2024-37085VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability5.9 · Background exploitation