VMware Tools Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
A fully compromised ESXi host can force VMware Tools to fail to authenticate host-to-guest operations, impacting the confidentiality and integrity of the guest virtual machine.
Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.
Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST
Exploitation signals 3 / 5
- KEV catalog (CISA)23 Jun 2023
- Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)23 Jun 2023
- Used by ransomwareno
- EPSS above 10 %13.6%
- No account, over the networkno
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
Affected products
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: 13.6%
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