CVE-2025-22224 VMware ESXi and Workstation TOCTOU Race Condition Vulnerability

​CVE-2025-22224 is a critical security vulnerability affecting VMware’s ESXi and Workstation products. This flaw has been actively exploited in the wild, making it imperative for organizations to understand its implications and implement appropriate mitigations.​

CVE-2025-22224 Description

CVE-2025-22224 is a Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability within VMware’s Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI). This flaw leads to an out-of-bounds write, allowing a malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine to execute arbitrary code as the virtual machine’s VMX process running on the host. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.3, indicating its critical severity. ​The Register+7feedly.com+7support.broadcom.com+7

What is Vulnerable to CVE-2025-22224

The following VMware products and versions are affected by CVE-2025-22224:​

• VMware ESXi: Versions 7.0 and 8.0​
• VMware Workstation: Version 17.x​CVE Feed+11support.broadcom.com+11CVE Feed+11
• VMware Cloud Foundation: Versions 4.x and 5.x​
• VMware Telco Cloud Platform: Versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, and 5.x​

Administrators managing environments with these versions should assess their exposure and prioritize remediation efforts. ​

Mitigation and Remediation for CVE-2025-22224

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-22224, VMware has released patches for the affected products. Administrators are strongly advised to apply these updates promptly:​

• VMware ESXi 8.0: Update to ESXi80U3d-24585383 or ESXi80U2d-24585300​
• VMware ESXi 7.0: Update to ESXi70U3s-24585291​
• VMware Workstation 17.x: Update to version 17.6.3​
• VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x and 4.5.x: Apply the asynchronous patch corresponding to ESXi80U3d-24585383 or ESXi70U3s-24585291​

Detailed instructions and downloads are available on VMware’s official support page. ​

Impact of Successful Exploitation of CVE-2025-22224

Exploitation of CVE-2025-22224 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the host system from within a virtual machine, effectively enabling a VM escape. This can lead to:​The Register

• Compromise of the Host System: Attackers can gain control over the host operating system, potentially affecting all virtual machines running on that host.​
• Data Breach: Sensitive information stored on the host or other VMs may be accessed or exfiltrated.​cybersecuritynews.com+1The Register+1
• Service Disruption: Critical services hosted on the virtual infrastructure could be disrupted, leading to downtime and operational losses.​

Given the active exploitation of this vulnerability, the potential impact is significant. ​cvecrowd.com

Proof of Concept for CVE-2025-22224

As of now, there is no publicly available proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2025-22224. However, VMware has acknowledged active exploitation in the wild, indicating that threat actors have developed functional exploits. Organizations should not rely on the absence of a public PoC as a measure of safety and should proceed with patching vulnerable systems without delay. ​

In conclusion, CVE-2025-22224 represents a critical security threat to VMware environments. Immediate action is required to apply the necessary patches and mitigate potential exploitation.