CVE-2025-22225

VMware ESXi: Arbitrary Write

As of , CVE-2025-22225 in VMware ESXi is on CISA's list of exploited vulnerabilities: CISA listed it on . Our patch-first group: Patch this week.

Exploited
Yes: CISA listed it on 4 March 2025
US federal deadline
25 March 202521 days after CISA listed it. US federal civilian agencies must fix it by then.
Used in ransomware campaigns
KnownCISA changed it from Unknown to Known on 4 February 2026.
EPSS score
0.01Higher than 62% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
Public exploit
None foundNeither Metasploit nor Exploit-DB lists one.
Fix
Vendor advice: support.broadcom.comLinks below, from CISA's entry.

What CISA says 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.

CISA's required action

What the flaw is

VMware ESXi contains an arbitrary write vulnerability. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with privileges within the VMX process to trigger an arbitrary kernel write leading to an escape of the sandbox.

CISA's 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.

The CVE record's description, from vmware

CVE published
4 March 2025
Assigned by
vmware
CVSS
8.2 High (CVSS 3.1, from the CNA)
CWE-123
Write-what-where Condition
CISA SSVC, exploitation
active
CISA SSVC, automatable
no
CISA SSVC, technical impact
total

Timeline

  1. The CVE record was published.
  2. CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
  3. CISA changed its entry. Edited: weakness list.
  4. The US federal deadline to fix it.
  5. CISA changed its entry. Ransomware use: Unknown to Known.

ESXi: other exploited entries

VulnerabilityProductOur groupListedDeadlineEPSS
CVE-2020-3992OpenSLP Use-After-FreeVMware ESXiPatch this weekRansomware use; EPSS 0.830.83
CVE-2024-37085Authentication BypassVMware ESXiPatch this weekRansomware use0.27

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