CVE-2025-41229: VMware Cloud Foundation Path Traversal

CVE-2025-41229 Overview

CVE-2025-41229 is a directory traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] in VMware Cloud Foundation. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 can exploit this issue to access certain internal services. The flaw stems from improper sanitization of file path inputs handled by the management interface exposed over HTTPS.

The vulnerability is network-exploitable, requires no authentication, and no user interaction. Broadcom published advisory #25733 to address the issue.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers with network reachability to port 443 can traverse directory boundaries to reach internal services that should not be exposed externally.

Affected Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation (per Broadcom Security Advisory #25733)
• Components reachable via the HTTPS management interface on port 443
• Refer to the vendor advisory for the full list of affected versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-20 - CVE-2025-41229 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41229

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a directory traversal flaw in VMware Cloud Foundation's HTTPS-facing services on port 443. An attacker submits crafted HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the intended file or URL namespace. Successful exploitation grants access to internal services that the platform does not intend to expose to external clients.

The issue is classified under [CWE-22] (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory). The impact profile emphasizes confidentiality, with limited integrity impact and no direct availability impact. Exposure of internal service endpoints can reveal configuration data, tokens, or APIs that enable follow-on attacks against the broader virtualization fabric.

The EPSS percentile of 84.296 indicates above-average likelihood of exploitation activity compared to the broader CVE population, even though no public exploit has been confirmed.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient validation of user-supplied path components in request handlers serving the management interface. The application accepts relative path segments without canonicalization, allowing traversal beyond the document or service root. As a result, requests resolve to internal resources outside the intended boundary.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated attacker with network access to port 443 of a VMware Cloud Foundation instance sends an HTTPS request with traversal sequences embedded in the URL or specific parameters. The server resolves the path, returning data or proxying to internal services that should remain inaccessible. No credentials, prior foothold, or user interaction are required.

No verified public exploit code is available. See the Broadcom Security Advisory #25733 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41229

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTPS requests to VMware Cloud Foundation on port 443 containing ../, ..%2f, ..%5c, or double-encoded traversal sequences in the URI or query string
• Access log entries showing successful 200 responses to URIs that reference internal service paths or unexpected directories
• Unusual outbound or lateral traffic originating from the Cloud Foundation management appliance following suspicious request bursts

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web access logs from SDDC Manager and related Cloud Foundation components for traversal patterns and anomalous URI depth
• Deploy WAF or reverse proxy rules to flag and log requests containing encoded traversal sequences targeting /443 endpoints
• Correlate authentication-free requests that return data from administrative or internal API paths with subsequent privileged actions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Centralize logs from all VMware Cloud Foundation management nodes into a SIEM and alert on traversal signature matches
• Track baseline request patterns for port 443 and alert on deviation in URI structure, response size, or status codes
• Monitor for new or unexpected connections from the management appliance to internal services that historically did not communicate with it

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41229

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the fixed versions published by Broadcom in Security Advisory #25733 without delay
• Restrict network access to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation management interfaces to authorized administrative networks only
• Review access logs from the period preceding patch deployment for traversal indicators and unauthorized internal service access

Patch Information

Broadcom released fixes for CVE-2025-41229 as documented in Broadcom Security Advisory #25733. Administrators should consult the advisory for the exact fixed build numbers that correspond to their deployed VMware Cloud Foundation version and follow the vendor-provided upgrade procedure.

Workarounds

• Place the management interface behind a hardened reverse proxy or WAF that rejects traversal sequences and canonicalizes paths
• Apply network segmentation and firewall rules that allow port 443 access only from a bastion or jump host
• Disable or restrict any unnecessary internal service endpoints reachable through the management plane until patching is complete

# Example firewall restriction limiting port 443 access to a management subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.10.50.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP