CVE-2025-22224: VMware ESXi and Workstation TOCTOU Race Condition Vulnerability

Patch now

CRITICAL 9.3EXPLOITEDMITIGATEMITIGATEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2025-22224 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.3) affecting esxi, cloud foundation, telco cloud infrastructure, 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, and Workstation contain a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check Time-of-Use) vulnerability that leads to an out-of-bounds write. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine may exploit this issue to execute code as the virtual machine's VMX process running on the host.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.3 (Critical)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.6% (top 25%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2025-03-25
Weakness	CWE-367
Published	2025-03-04
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

2025-03-04Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2025-03-04 12:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2025-03-25Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 08:45 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware esxi MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 7.0 beta · 7.0 update_1 · 7.0 update_1a · 7.0 update_1b · 7.0 update_1c · 7.0 update_1d · 7.0 update_1e

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.

vmware cloud foundation MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

vmware telco cloud infrastructure DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.2 · 2.5 · 2.7 · 3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.2

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy telco-cloud-infrastructure || rpm -q telco-cloud-infrastructure || telco-cloud-infrastructure --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison telco-cloud-infrastructure sudo apt install telco-cloud-infrastructure=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.2> sudo apt-mark hold telco-cloud-infrastructure

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list telco-cloud-infrastructure sudo dnf downgrade telco-cloud-infrastructure-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.2> sudo dnf versionlock add telco-cloud-infrastructure

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 telco cloud platform DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0 · 2.5 · 2.7 · 3.0 · 4.0 · 4.0.1 · 5.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy telco-cloud-platform || rpm -q telco-cloud-platform || telco-cloud-platform --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison telco-cloud-platform sudo apt install telco-cloud-platform=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold telco-cloud-platform

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list telco-cloud-platform sudo dnf downgrade telco-cloud-platform-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add telco-cloud-platform

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 workstation UPGRADE

Affected: >= 17.0 and < 17.6.3

Fixed in: 17.6.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 17.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy workstation || rpm -q workstation || workstation --version

2. UPGRADE to 17.6.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade workstation

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade workstation

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 17.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison workstation sudo apt install workstation=<VERSION_BEFORE_17.0> sudo apt-mark hold workstation

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

dnf --showduplicates list workstation sudo dnf downgrade workstation-<VERSION_BEFORE_17.0> sudo dnf versionlock add workstation

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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · opensips · FIXED · 4.0.3-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-6700a0026c · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-6700a0026c

Fedora ELN · ibus-typing-booster · FIXED · 2.31.3-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-c895c68d60 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-c895c68d60

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-2025-22224?

esxi: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; cloud foundation: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; telco cloud infrastructure: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2025-22224 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2025-22224 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2025-22224 affect?

CVE-2025-22224 affects esxi, cloud foundation, telco cloud infrastructure. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.3). VMware ESXi, and Workstation contain a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check Time-of-Use) vulnerability that leads to an out-of-bounds write. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine may exploit this issue to execute code

How urgent is CVE-2025-22224?

Priority 76/100. Critical severity; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)

Software pages

VMware vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2025-22225 HIGH 8.2 EXPLOITED MITIGATE MITIGATE VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability
CVE-2025-22226 HIGH 7.1 EXPLOITED MITIGATE MITIGATE VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion Information Disclosure Vulnerability
CVE-2024-37086 MEDIUM 6.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE VMware ESXi contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. A malicious actor with local administrative privile
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References

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