CVE-2025-41230: VMware Cloud Foundation Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-41230 Overview

CVE-2025-41230 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting VMware Cloud Foundation. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation may exploit this issue to gain access to sensitive information. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor), indicating improper handling of sensitive data that could be leveraged by attackers to gather intelligence about the target environment.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers with network access to port 443 can extract sensitive information from VMware Cloud Foundation deployments, potentially enabling further attacks or data breaches.

Affected Products

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

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-20 - CVE-2025-41230 published to NVD
• 2025-05-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41230

Vulnerability Analysis

This information disclosure vulnerability in VMware Cloud Foundation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access sensitive information through the HTTPS management interface on port 443. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction or authentication, making it particularly concerning for internet-exposed deployments.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network with low complexity, requiring no privileges or special conditions. While the vulnerability does not directly enable data modification or service disruption, the confidentiality impact is significant as attackers can gain access to sensitive configuration details, credentials, or other critical information that could facilitate further attacks against the infrastructure.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-41230 relates to CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). VMware Cloud Foundation improperly exposes sensitive information through its network-accessible interface on port 443, failing to adequately restrict access to confidential data. This could stem from insufficient access controls, improper API endpoint protection, or verbose error messages that reveal internal system details.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploited through network access to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation systems. An attacker positioned on the same network or with internet access to the management interface can send specially crafted requests to extract sensitive information. The attack requires no authentication and can be performed with low complexity, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors.

Since no verified exploit code examples are available, the specific exploitation mechanism is not publicly documented. Organizations should review the Broadcom Security Advisory for detailed technical information about the vulnerability and exploitation scenarios.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41230

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or unexpected network traffic patterns to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation systems
• Anomalous API requests or HTTP requests that deviate from normal administrative activity
• Evidence of unauthorized information retrieval in access logs
• Connection attempts from unrecognized IP addresses to the management interface

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic to VMware Cloud Foundation port 443 for suspicious request patterns
• Implement intrusion detection rules to identify reconnaissance activity targeting the management interface
• Review web server and application logs for unusual access patterns or error responses
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity to detect and alert on exploitation attempts through behavioral analysis

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on VMware Cloud Foundation systems and centralize log collection
• Configure alerts for access attempts from untrusted network segments
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect lateral movement following information disclosure
• Establish baselines for normal management interface activity to identify anomalies

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41230

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the Broadcom Security Advisory for patch availability and instructions
• Restrict network access to port 443 on VMware Cloud Foundation to trusted administrative networks only
• Implement firewall rules to block unauthorized access to the management interface
• Audit current access logs for any signs of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Broadcom has published a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Broadcom Security Advisory for specific patch versions and upgrade instructions. Apply the recommended updates as soon as possible to remediate this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Implement network segmentation to isolate VMware Cloud Foundation management interfaces from untrusted networks
• Use a VPN or jump host to restrict direct access to port 443 on affected systems
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to filter potentially malicious requests
• Enable additional authentication mechanisms at the network perimeter if available

# Example: Restrict access to VMware Cloud Foundation management port using iptables
# Allow only trusted admin network (adjust IP range as needed)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP