CriticalCVE-2025-41244

    Tools: Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions (CVE-2025-41244)

    Published Last modified In CISA KEV since Sources: BSI

    What is affected, what to do

    VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious local actor with non-administrative privileges having access to a VM with VMware Tools installed and managed by Aria Operations with SDMP enabled may exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges to root on the same VM.

    The vulnerability is being actively exploited; treat it as a priority. Update VMware VCF operations to version 9.0.1.0, VMware tools to version 13.0.5.0, VMware tools to version 12.5.4. Immediate actions, mitigation and detection rules are in the runbook below.

    Affected
    • VMware VCF operations lt 9.0.x..9.0.1.0
    • VMware tools lt 13.x.x.x..13.0.5.0
    • VMware tools lt 12.5.x..12.5.4
    • VMware Aria Operations lt 8.18.x..8.18.5
    • VMware Cloud Foundation lt 5.x..8.18.5
    • VMware Telco Cloud Platform lt 5.x..8.18.5
    • VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure lt 3.x..8.18.5
    Fixed in
    • VMware VCF operations 9.0.1.0
    • VMware tools 13.0.5.0
    • VMware tools 12.5.4
    • VMware Aria Operations 8.18.5
    • VMware Cloud Foundation 8.18.5
    • VMware Telco Cloud Platform 8.18.5
    • VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure 8.18.5

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    7.8

    Priority

    XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

    Source: NVD, CVSS v3

    7.8

    CVSS v3

    Severity High on the scale from 0 to 10.

    Source: BSI

    8.6 %

    EPSS score

    Moderate — model estimates 1-10% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 95.1

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    Critical
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    178.47 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    actively exploitedSource: VulnCheck KEV (opens in a new tab) How we classify
    XIEM Effective CVSS

    XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.

    Read in glossary
    7.8 Methodology
    CVSS v3

    CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.

    Read in glossary
    7.8
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    8.6 %
    Moderate — model estimates 1-10% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    95.1
    Critical — this CVE ranks in the top fifth of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 80%).
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    Actively exploited
    Published
    In CISA KEV since

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    CISA assessment (SSVC)
    Exploitation: active · not automatable · Technical impact: total
    Source: CISA Vulnrichment, as of 30 October 2025
    CWE

    CWE is a catalogue of typical weakness types in software and hardware — such as flawed input validation, unsafe memory handling or poor authentication. Where a CVE names a concrete vulnerability in a concrete product, a CWE describes the underlying class of defect.

    Read in glossary
    CWE-267

    Response and mitigation

    Why act now?

    Prioritisation rationale

    Exploitation needs low-privileged local access, but it is trivial and lands directly on root. That makes it a dependable second stage after an initial foothold such as a compromised web application. Exploitation likelihood is markedly elevated compared with typical local privilege escalations. CISA does not flag known ransomware use, but root on virtualised servers is an ideal base for persistence and lateral movement. Rate it high for any estate running Aria/VCF Operations with SDMP enabled, especially internet-facing Linux VMs. Where SDMP is off, urgency drops, and the Tools update can follow the regular patch cycle without undue delay.

    1. Runbook step 1

      Immediate response (0-24 h)

      • Update VMware Tools: Move all guest VMs to VMware Tools 13.0.5.0 or 12.5.4. On Linux guests running open-vm-tools, apply the distribution update. For Debian 11, check the open-vm-tools security update; look up the package version in the Debian advisory.
      • Patch Aria Operations / VCF Operations: Upgrade Aria Operations to 8.18.5 and VCF Operations to 9.0.1.0. VMware Cloud Foundation, Telco Cloud Infrastructure and Telco Cloud Platform take the fix via Aria Operations 8.18.5. Check the exact build mapping in the Broadcom advisory (VMSA-2025-0015).
      • Scope the exposure: Enumerate every VM monitored by Aria Operations with the Service Discovery Management Pack (SDMP) enabled. Only that combination is exploitable. Prioritise multi-user systems, jump hosts, container hosts and VMs running web services.
      • Disable SDMP temporarily: If patching cannot complete within 24 h, disable SDMP in Aria Operations or remove the management pack from affected object groups.
      • Compromise sweep: On monitored Linux VMs, hunt for executables in /tmp, /var/tmp and /dev/shm named like services (httpd, nginx, java, mysqld). Treat hits as signs of a completed privilege escalation: isolate the VM and preserve evidence.

    2. Runbook step 2

      Mitigation layers

      • Guest configuration: Disable the VMware Tools/open-vm-tools service discovery plugin via tools.conf ([servicediscovery], disabled=true) or by removing the plugin, then restart vmtoolsd. Verify effectiveness against the vendor advisory.
      • Endpoint hardening: Mount /tmp, /var/tmp and /dev/shm with noexec,nosuid,nodev. This undercuts the typical attack path, in which a user-planted binary gets executed as root by the discovery script's version probe.
      • Application control: Use SELinux/AppArmor or fapolicyd to block execution from user-writable paths by children of vmtoolsd. On Windows, apply WDAC/AppLocker for processes spawned under vmtoolsd.exe.
      • IAM / least privilege: Minimise interactive accounts on monitored VMs and strip shell access from service accounts. In credential-based SDMP mode, rotate the stored privileged credentials and scope them down.
      • Segmentation: This is not a network vector, but local access usually follows an initial foothold (webshell, weak SSH). Restrict SSH/RDP into monitored VMs to management networks to make that foothold harder to get.

    3. Runbook step 3

      Detection rules

      • EDR / Sysmon for Linux process chain: vmtoolsd → sh/bash with get-versions.sh on the command line → child process whose image sits under /tmp/, /var/tmp/ or /dev/shm/ and runs with -v or --version. Sigma shape: ParentCommandLine|contains: 'get-versions.sh' AND Image|startswith: ['/tmp/','/var/tmp/','/dev/shm/'].
      • auditd: Add -a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve -F euid=0 -k root_exec and filter in the SIEM for exe prefixed with /tmp, /var/tmp or /dev/shm. Root execution of a file owned by an unprivileged user is high-fidelity.
      • Post-escalation persistence: Correlate new files in /etc/sudoers.d/, changes to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys, or new SUID binaries with preceding vmtoolsd-descendant executions (Sysmon for Linux EID 11, auditd watches with -p wa).
      • Windows guests: Sysmon EID 1 where ParentImage ends with vmtoolsd.exe and Image resides in C:\Users\, C:\ProgramData\ or %TEMP%. KQL: DeviceProcessEvents | where InitiatingProcessFileName =~ "vmtoolsd.exe" and FolderPath has_any ("\\Users\\","\\ProgramData\\","\\Temp\\").
      • Rogue listeners: A non-root process holding a listening socket under a service-like name (ss -tlpn, osquery listening_ports JOIN processes with path LIKE '/tmp/%') is a staging indicator.

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    Actively exploited: treat the vulnerability as a priority in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2. If it is exploited in your environment, check the reporting obligation under Art. 23 (early warning within 24 hours).
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    Since 11.09.2026, manufacturers of affected products with digital elements must report actively exploited vulnerabilities under Art. 14 CRA, with an early warning within 24 hours via ENISA's single reporting platform.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious local actor with non-administrative privileges having access to a VM with VMware Tools installed and managed by Aria Operations with SDMP enabled may exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges to root on the same VM.

    Source: BSI WID Portal

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    VMwareTools
    • 11.x.x
    • 12.x.x – < 12.5.4
    • 13.x.x.x – < 13.0.5.0
    • < 12.5.4
    • < 13.0.5
    • < 13.0.5.0
    • —
    • 12.5.4
    • 13.0.5.0
    • 12.5.4
    • 13.0.5
    • 13.0.5.0
    VMwareVCF operations
    • 9.0.x – < 9.0.1.0
    • 9.0.1.0
    VMwareVMware Aria Operations
    • 8.18.x – < 8.18.5
    • 8.18.5
    VMwareVMware Cloud Foundation
    • 5.x – < 8.18.5
    • 8.18.5
    VMwareVMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure
    • 3.x – < 8.18.5
    • 8.18.5
    VMwareVMware Telco Cloud Platform
    • 5.x – < 8.18.5
    • 8.18.5
    VMwareVMware tools
    • 12.5.x – < 12.5.4
    • 13.x.x.x – < 13.0.5.0
    • 12.5.4
    • 13.0.5.0
    vmwarearia_operations
    • 8.0 – < 8.18.5
    • 8.18.5
    vmwarecloud_foundation
    • 4.0 – ≤ 5.2.2
    • —
    vmwarecloud_foundation_operations
    • 9.0
    • —
    vmwareopen_vm_tools
    • 11.2.0 – < 12.5.4
    • 13.0.0
    • 12.5.4
    • —
    vmwaretelco_cloud_infrastructure
    • 2.2 – ≤ 3.0
    • —
    vmwaretelco_cloud_platform
    • 4.0 – < 5.0.1
    • 5.0.1
    vmwaretools
    • 12.5.0 – < 12.5.4
    • 13.0.0.0 – < 13.0.5.0
    • 12.5.4
    • 13.0.5.0
    DellSecure Connect Gateway Appliance
    • < 5.32.00.18
    • 5.32.00.18
    IBMDataPower Gateway
    • < 11.0.0.2
    • 11.0.0.2
    VMwareAria Operations
    • < 8.18.5
    • 8.18.5
    VMwareCloud Foundation
    • < 9.0.1.0
    • 9.0.1.0
    VMwarevSphere Foundation
    • < 9.0.1.0
    • 9.0.1.0
    From bundled advisories, not CVE-specific (21)

    Product list of a bundled advisory that does not state which product this CVE affects.

    Products from bundled advisories
    Affected versionsFixed in
    DellAvamar
    • Data Store Gen4T / Gen5A <19.9 OS Security Rollup 2025R4
    • NDMP Accelerator <19.9 OS Security Rollup 2025R4
    • Virtual Edition <19.9 OS Security Rollup 2025R4
    • VMware Image Backup Proxy <19.9 OS Security Rollup 2025R4
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    DellAvamar Data Store Gen4T / Gen5A
    • < 19.10
    • < 19.10-SP1
    • < 19.12
    • 19.10
    • 19.10-SP1
    • 19.12
    DellAvamar NDMP Accelerator
    • < 19.10
    • < 19.10-SP1
    • < 19.12
    • 19.10
    • 19.10-SP1
    • 19.12
    DellAvamar Virtual Edition
    • < 19.10
    • < 19.10-SP1
    • < 19.12,
    • 19.10
    • 19.10-SP1
    • 19.12,
    DellAvamar VMware Image Backup Proxy
    • < 19.10
    • < 19.10-SP1
    • < 19.12
    • 19.10
    • 19.10-SP1
    • 19.12
    DellNetWorker
    • Virtual Edition <19.12 OS Security Rollup 2025R4
    • —
    DellNetWorker Virtual Edition
    • < 19.10
    • < 19.11
    • < 19.9
    • 19.10
    • 19.11
    • 19.9
    DellNetWorker vProxy
    • < 19.13.0.3
    • 19.13.0.3

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    Linuxdebiandebian_linux11.0
    Linuxdebianopen-vm-toolsbullseye

    Weakness classes (CWE)

    • CWE-267Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions

      Base

      A particular privilege, role, capability, or right can be used to perform unsafe actions that were not intended, even when it is assigned to the correct entity.

      Entry at MITRE CWE-267

    Public exploit references

    Publicly reported proof-of-concepts, exploit modules and detection templates for this vulnerability. NEOSEC links to the original sources only and does not provide any exploit code.

    Public exploit references
    CISA KEV CatalogCISA Known Exploited Vulnerability (opens in a new tab)cisa.govactively exploited

    References & sources

    • support.broadcom.comgroup/ecx/support-content-view/-/support-content/Security Advis…
    • blog.nviso.eu2025/09/29/you-name-it-vmware-elevates-it-cve-2025-41244Exploit, Technical description, Exploit, Third-party advisory
    • support.broadcom.comBroadcom advisory: Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware ToolsVendor advisory, Vendor advisory, pwn-watch
    • cisa.govknown-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-41244government-resource, US government resource
    • lists.debian.orgdebian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00000.htmlMailing list, Third-party advisory
    • openwall.comlists/oss-security/2025/09/29/10Mailing list, Third-party advisory
    • pwn.watchpwn.watch: Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools: VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools Privilege Defined with Unsafe Actions Vulnerabilitypwn-watch
    • NVD (NIST)NVD: CVE-2025-41244pwn-watch
    • cisa.govCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalogpwn-watch

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    One NVD translation into another language is hidden.

    Linked CVEs

    Linked CVEs
    HighCVE-2025-41246Improper authorisation vulnerability7.6—
    MediumCVE-2025-41245VMware: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default4.9—
    CriticalCVE-2025-41244Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools Privilege Defined with Unsafe Actions Vulnerability7.8Actively exploited
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    Badge preview for CVE-2025-41244
    <a href="https://intel.neosec.eu/en/cve/CVE-2025-41244"><img src="https://intel.neosec.eu/badge/cve/CVE-2025-41244.svg?lang=en" alt="CVE-2025-41244 – NEOSEC Intel" height="20"></a>