VMware ESXi VMX sandbox escape via arbitrary kernel write
CVE-2025-22225 is a VMware ESXi arbitrary write vulnerability in which a malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process can trigger an arbitrary kernel write, resulting in escape from the VMX sandbox to the ESXi kernel. Broadcom/VMware describes the issue as affecting ESXi and enabling a guest-to-host boundary break when the attacker already has the ability to operate in the VMX process context. Reporting in the provided content indicates the flaw has been observed as part of exploit chains with CVE-2025-22226 (HGFS information leak) and CVE-2025-22224 (VMCI memory corruption/code execution as VMX), where the chain leaks VMX memory, corrupts VMX state, and then uses CVE-2025-22225 for final sandbox escape to kernel context. The specific vulnerable function is not identified in the provided material.
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Impact, mitigation & remediation
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Impact
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Mitigation
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Remediation
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Exploits
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No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.
Affected products & vendors
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Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
52 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A VMware VM escape chain involving HGFS and VMCI interfaces that allows code execution on the hypervisor from a compromised guest VM.
A VMware ESXi vulnerability enabling sandbox escape via VMX-related flaws, reported by CISA as exploited in ransomware attacks.
A specific vulnerability in VMware ESXi that the newsletter states is being leveraged in active ransomware attacks.
A VMware ESXi arbitrary write vulnerability confirmed by CISA as exploited in ransomware campaigns (added to KEV).
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.