CVE-2025-22225 VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability

​CVE-2025-22225 is a critical security vulnerability identified in VMware ESXi, a widely used enterprise-class hypervisor. This flaw allows a malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process to perform arbitrary kernel writes, potentially leading to a sandbox escape and full control over the hypervisor. ​

What is Vulnerable to CVE-2025-22225

This vulnerability affects multiple VMware products, including:​windowsforum.com+1support.broadcom.com+1

• VMware ESXi: Versions 7.0 and 8.0 are impacted. Administrators should refer to VMware’s official advisory to identify the specific builds affected and apply the necessary patches.​

• VMware Cloud Foundation: Versions 4.5.x and 5.x are affected. It’s crucial for administrators to consult VMware’s advisory to determine the exact versions impacted and proceed with the recommended updates.​Security Online

It’s important to note that exploitation of this vulnerability requires the attacker to have privileges within the VMX process. However, once these privileges are obtained, the attacker can trigger an arbitrary kernel write, leading to a sandbox escape. ​NIST NVD

Mitigation and Remediation for CVE-2025-22225

To address CVE-2025-22225, VMware has released security patches for the affected products. Administrators are strongly advised to apply these updates promptly. The fixed versions are detailed in VMware’s security advisory, and it’s essential to upgrade to these versions to mitigate the vulnerability. ​support.broadcom.com

Currently, there are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. Therefore, timely application of the patches is crucial to protect systems from potential exploitation. Additionally, VMware has acknowledged that exploitation of this vulnerability has occurred in the wild, underscoring the importance of immediate remediation. ​strobes.co

Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures, such as restricting access to the VMX process and monitoring for unusual activity, to further protect their environments.​

Impact of Successful Exploitation of CVE-2025-22225

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-22225 allows an attacker with privileges within the VMX process to perform arbitrary kernel writes, leading to a sandbox escape. This means that an attacker who has already compromised a virtual machine’s guest operating system and gained privileged access could move into the hypervisor itself, potentially compromising the entire virtualization host. ​

Proof of Concept for CVE-2025-22225

As of now, there is no publicly available proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2025-22225. However, VMware has acknowledged that exploitation of this vulnerability has occurred in the wild. Organizations are advised to apply the necessary patches promptly to mitigate potential risks.