Zero-day vulnerability in VMware Tools

Improper access control
CVE-2025-41244

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2025093024 - Privilege escalation in VMware Tools

Vulnerable component: VMware Tools

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-41244

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-284 - Improper Access Control

Description:

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the virtual machine. 

The vulnerability exists due to improper access restrictions. A local non-privileged user on the virtual machine can execute arbitrary  code with superuser privileges on the same virtual machine. 

Note, the vulnerability is being exploited in the wild since mid-October 2024.

External links:



About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.