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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-22225: VMware ESXi · Arbitrary Write Vulnerability

Affects VMware ESXiSource CVE Database V5

0

Exploited in the wild · used in ransomware campaigns · KEV due 25 Mar 2025 · 1% EPSS : apply the vendor's fix or mitigations to VMware ESXi now.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
8.2High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
KEV deadline
 US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else.
Ransomware
Used in ransomware campaigns
EPSS
1.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 63% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 4 Mar 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: evidence found.

    Listed in CISA KEV the same day as disclosure

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

Timeline

  1. CVE ID reserved

    by VMware by Broadcom

    , 61 days before disclosure

  2. CVE published

    on cve.org

    , t = 0

  3. Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)

    exploitation confirmed · ransomware use known

    , the same day as disclosure

  4. KEV remediation due

    US federal deadline

    , 21 days after disclosure

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
VMware VMware ESXiAffected
  • =8.0
  • =7.0
  • 8.0
  • 7.0
Fixed in–

Description

VMware ESXi contains an arbitrary write vulnerability. A malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process may trigger an arbitrary kernel write leading to an escape of the sandbox.

References

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