CVE-2025-41229: VMware Cloud Foundation Path Traversal

CVE-2025-41229 Overview

CVE-2025-41229 is a directory traversal vulnerability affecting VMware Cloud Foundation. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation may exploit this issue to access certain internal services. This vulnerability (CWE-22) allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by manipulating file paths to traverse directories outside of the expected scope.

Critical Impact

Network-accessible attackers can exploit this directory traversal flaw to access internal services on VMware Cloud Foundation deployments, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data and internal service endpoints.

Affected Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation (specific versions detailed in vendor advisory)

Discovery Timeline

• May 20, 2025 - CVE-2025-41229 published to NVD
• May 21, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41229

Vulnerability Analysis

This directory traversal vulnerability exists in VMware Cloud Foundation's web services exposed on port 443. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access internal services that should not be exposed to external network access. The attack requires no privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where VMware Cloud Foundation is accessible from untrusted networks.

The vulnerability poses significant risk to confidentiality as attackers can potentially read sensitive information from internal services. There is also limited impact to system integrity, though system availability remains unaffected according to the vulnerability assessment.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory (CWE-22). The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before using it to construct file paths or route requests. This allows attackers to use directory traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory structure and access resources outside the normal scope.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, targeting port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation instances. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences to manipulate how the application routes requests or accesses files. Since no authentication or user interaction is required, any attacker with network access to the vulnerable port can attempt exploitation.

The attack path typically involves:

1. Identifying a VMware Cloud Foundation instance accessible on port 443
2. Crafting HTTP requests with path traversal sequences in URL parameters or paths
3. Accessing internal services or resources that should be restricted from external access

Technical details regarding specific exploitation methods can be found in the Broadcom Security Advisory #25733.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41229

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to port 443 containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or %2e%2e/
• Unusual access patterns to internal VMware Cloud Foundation services from external sources
• Web server logs showing requests attempting to access paths outside normal application directories
• Unexpected connections to internal services that are not typically exposed to external users

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP requests
• Enable detailed logging on VMware Cloud Foundation web services and monitor for anomalous path requests
• Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures for directory traversal attacks
• Utilize SentinelOne Singularity XDR to detect suspicious network activity and file access patterns associated with exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor inbound connections to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation instances for suspicious request patterns
• Set up alerts for access attempts to internal service endpoints from external networks
• Review and audit web server access logs regularly for path traversal indicators
• Implement continuous monitoring of VMware Cloud Foundation host systems for signs of unauthorized access

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41229

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the Broadcom Security Advisory #25733 for patch availability and apply updates immediately
• Restrict network access to VMware Cloud Foundation port 443 to trusted networks and IP addresses only
• Implement web application firewall rules to block known path traversal patterns
• Monitor systems for indicators of compromise while awaiting or deploying patches

Patch Information

Broadcom has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Broadcom Security Advisory #25733 for specific patch information, affected version details, and remediation guidance. Apply the vendor-provided patches as the primary remediation strategy.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation to trusted networks using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) in front of VMware Cloud Foundation to filter malicious requests containing traversal patterns
• Implement network access control lists (ACLs) to limit which source IP addresses can reach the management interface
• Consider placing VMware Cloud Foundation management interfaces behind a VPN for additional access control

# Example firewall rule to restrict access to trusted networks only
# Adjust IP ranges according to your environment
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 192.168.0.0/16 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP