CVE entry · CVE-2025-41244
CVE-2025-41244: Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools Privilege Defined with Unsafe Actions Vulnerability
Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools contain a privilege defined with unsafe actions 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.
- Actively exploited: added to CISA’s KEV catalog on October 30, 2025.
- Use by ransomware: not established so far.
- Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: November 20, 2025.
Description from CISA’s KEV catalog.
What to do
- Check whether your estate includes Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools, including internet-facing devices.
- Apply the vendor’s patch or mitigations (references below). Failing that, isolate the product or stop using it, as CISA requires of US federal agencies.
- An exploited vulnerability has often been used before it was fixed: look for signs of compromise, especially on internet-facing devices.
References
- Vendor advisory or reference cited by CISA (support.broadcom.com)
- NVD entry (NIST)
- CISA KEV catalog