VMware ESXi, TOCTOU Vulnerability, CVE-2025-22224 (Critical)

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How the CVE Works:

CVE-2025-22224 is a critical TOCTOU (Time-of-Check Time-of-Use) vulnerability in VMware ESXi and Workstation. It occurs due to a race condition where the system checks the state of a resource (time-of-check) and uses it (time-of-use) without ensuring consistency between the two actions. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine can exploit this flaw to perform an out-of-bounds write. This allows them to execute arbitrary code in the context of the VMX process, which runs on the host. The VMX process has elevated privileges, enabling the attacker to potentially compromise the entire host system. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments where a single host runs multiple virtual machines.

DailyCVE Form:

Platform: VMware ESXi, Workstation
Version: Multiple versions affected
Vulnerability: TOCTOU leading to out-of-bounds write
Severity: Critical
Date: 03/04/2025

(End of form)

What Undercode Say:

Exploitation:

1. Exploit Code:

• A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit could involve crafting a malicious VM configuration file to trigger the race condition.
• Example command to manipulate VMX process:

  echo "malicious_payload" > /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/vm.vmx
  

2. Exploit Steps:

• Gain local administrative access to a VM.
• Use a crafted VMX file to trigger the TOCTOU vulnerability.
• Execute arbitrary code on the host via the VMX process.

3. Exploit Tools:

• Tools like `gdb` or `strace` can be used to debug and identify the race condition.
• Metasploit module (if developed) for CVE-2025-22224.

Protection:

1. Mitigation:

• Apply the latest VMware security patches.
• Restrict local administrative access to VMs.
• Use host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to monitor VMX process activity.

2. Detection:

• Monitor for unusual VMX process behavior using SIEM tools.
• Example Splunk query:
  [spl]
  index=vmware sourcetype=vmx_process “out-of-bounds write”
  [/spl]

3. Hardening:

• Disable unnecessary VM features to reduce attack surface.
• Implement strict access controls for VM configuration files.

4. References:

• VMware Security Advisory: VMware-SA-2025-0001
• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog: CISA Catalog

5. Code Example for Monitoring:

Monitor VMX process for suspicious activity
ps aux | grep vmx

6. Additional Resources:

• NVD Entry: CVE-2025-22224
• VMware Workstation Download: VMware Workstation
  By following these steps, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-22224 and protect their virtualized environments from exploitation.

References:

Reported By: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22224
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