CVE-2025-22226 Overview
VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion contain an information disclosure vulnerability due to an out-of-bounds read in HGFS. A malicious actor with administrative privileges to a virtual machine may be able to exploit this issue to leak memory from the vmx process.
Critical Impact
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to disclose sensitive memory details, potentially leading to further attacks.
Affected Products
- vmware esxi
- vmware cloud_foundation
- vmware fusion
Discovery Timeline
- Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
- Not Available - Responsible disclosure to VMware
- Not Available - CVE CVE-2025-22226 assigned
- Not Available - VMware releases security patch
- 2025-03-04 - CVE CVE-2025-22226 published to NVD
- 2025-10-30 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-22226
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from an out-of-bounds read in the HGFS component of VMware products. This out-of-bounds read could potentially be manipulated by an attacker to disclose sensitive memory information that could then be used in further attacks.
Root Cause
The root cause is an out-of-bounds read operation in the HGFS component, which does not correctly validate its memory boundaries.
Attack Vector
This vulnerability is exploitable locally by actors with administrative privileges to a virtual machine.
// Example exploitation code (sanitized)
char buffer[10];
char sensitive_data[100];
// Potentially dangerous read
memcpy(buffer, sensitive_data + n, 15);
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22226
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual memory access patterns in the vmx process
- Presence of non-typical log entries related to HGFS operations
- Alerts from intrusion detection systems monitoring VMware services
Detection Strategies
Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual memory access and audit logs for unexpected HGFS operations. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems with specific rules for VMware-related anomalies can help in early detection.
Monitoring Recommendations
Ensure continuous monitoring of memory access requests and implement logging for all HGFS operations. Validate consistent access patterns to prevent potential exploitation attempts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22226
Immediate Actions Required
- Verify administrative privileges for all users
- Monitor and log all access to HGFS
- Apply latest security patches from VMware
Patch Information
Visit VMware's official advisory for details on applying patches: Vendor Advisory
Workarounds
Limit access to HGFS by refining VM configurations and implementing stricter access controls. It may also be useful to disable HGFS if not required for operations.
# Configuration example
vmware-config --disable-HGFS
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
