Critical VMware Zero-Days Allow VM Escape and Host Takeover

If you're using VMware ESXi, vSphere, Workstation, or Cloud Foundation, you need to act quickly. Three newly discovered zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-22224, CVE-2025-22225, CVE-2025-22226) have been actively exploited by attackers. These flaws allow hackers to escape virtual machines (VMs), take over the host system, and potentially compromise entire environments.

Understanding the Vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-22224 – VCMI Heap Overflow This critical flaw in the Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VCMI) lets attackers with admin privileges on a VM overflow memory and execute malicious code on the host machine13.

CVE-2025-22225 – Arbitrary Write via RPC Attackers can exploit Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) to escalate privileges and write to the kernel, enabling them to escape the VM sandbox and control the host system13.

CVE-2025-22226 – Shared Memory Exploit This vulnerability allows hackers to access shared memory between VMs, exposing sensitive data or enabling further attacks13.

Why It Matters

Once an attacker escapes a VM:

They can access other VMs to steal data or inject malware.

Move laterally across networks.

Potentially compromise cloud environments13.

What You Should Do

Apply Patches Immediately VMware has released fixes for these vulnerabilities. Update your systems without delay as no workarounds are available3.

Restrict Privileged Access Limit admin or root access to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Monitor for Unusual Activity Investigate any strange behavior in your VMs promptly.

These vulnerabilities are serious, often targeted by ransomware groups.Be Aware !!