CVE-2024-37085: VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Patch now

MEDIUM 6.8EXPLOITEDUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2024-37085 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.8) affecting cloud foundation, esxi, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2012/09/joining-vsphere-hosts-to-active-directory.html by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.

Why this priority

EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Used in ransomware campaigns

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.8 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	26.8% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2024-08-20, used in ransomware
Weakness	CWE-287, CWE-305
Published	2024-06-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): VMware · Vendor: vmware

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2024-06-25 15:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2024-07-30Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2024-08-20Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 07:37 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware cloud foundation UPGRADE

Affected: >= 4.0 and < 5.2

Fixed in: 5.2

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cloud-foundation || rpm -q cloud-foundation || cloud-foundation --version

2. UPGRADE to 5.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade cloud-foundation

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade cloud-foundation

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cloud-foundation sudo apt install cloud-foundation=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold cloud-foundation

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list cloud-foundation sudo dnf downgrade cloud-foundation-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add cloud-foundation

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

vmware esxi MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0 · 8.0 a · 8.0 b · 8.0 c · 8.0 update_1 · 8.0 update_1a · 8.0 update_1c

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · gram_grep · FIXED · 0.10.4-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-0808475f2a · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-0808475f2a

Fedora 46 · wesnoth · FIXED · 1.19.29-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-58f458e24e · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-58f458e24e

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: mahmutaymahmutay/CVE-2024-37085 (2 stars)
GitHub PoC: WTN-arny/Vmware-ESXI (0 stars)
GitHub PoC: WTN-arny/CVE-2024-37085 (0 stars)
GitHub PoC: Florian-Hoth/CVE-2024-37085-RCE-POC

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2024-37085?

cloud foundation: upgrade to 5.2; esxi: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2024-37085 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2024-37085 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2024-37085 affect?

CVE-2024-37085 affects cloud foundation, esxi. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.8). VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management https://blog

How urgent is CVE-2024-37085?

Priority 78/100. EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns

Software pages

Active Directory vulnerabilities · VMware vulnerabilities

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References

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