CVE-2025-22225
VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability
- High 8.2
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 4 Mar 2025
- Used in ransomware campaigns
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.
Key facts
- Published
- 4 Mar 2025
- Last changed
- 4 Aug 2026
- Assigned by
- vmware
- KEV added
- 4 Mar 2025
- KEV fix due
- 25 Mar 2025
- Used in ransomware
- Yes, according to CISA
- EPSS
- 1.016% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 63.851% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
- SSVC (CISA)
- Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total
Severity scores
Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.
- 8.2CVSS 3.1, Highfrom the CNA (vmware)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.CISA KEV required action
Historical context and remediation
This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.
No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.
Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | VMware ESXi |
|
| n/a | VMware Cloud Foundation |
|
| n/a | VMware Telco Cloud Platform |
|
| n/a | VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure |
|
Timeline
- 4 Mar 2025 CVE-2025-22225 added to CISA KEV
- 4 Mar 2025 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue
- 4 Mar 2025 Published