CVE-2022-31696Public exploit

Sandbox escape via UDP keepalive type confusion

Published Dec 13, 2022 · Updated Apr 22, 2025

Memory corruption in VMware ESXi 6.5, 6.7, and 7.0 allows local users to escape an ESXi sandbox via a crafted network socket. The TCP/IP kernel module's sosetopt path casts a UDP protocol control block as a TCP control block when SO_KEEPALIVE is set, then accesses TCP timer data beyond the UDP structure. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the ESXi host and permits arbitrary kernel-context code execution; the published proof of concept instead demonstrates an immediate host crash.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in VMware ESXi 6.5, 6.7, and 7.0 allows local users to escape an ESXi sandbox via a crafted network socket. The TCP/IP kernel module's sosetopt path casts a UDP protocol control block as a TCP control block when SO_KEEPALIVE is set, then accesses TCP timer data beyond the UDP structure. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the ESXi host and permits arbitrary kernel-context code execution; the published proof of concept instead demonstrates an immediate host crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-31696
Published
Dec 13, 2022
Updated
Apr 22, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 13, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Trend Micro Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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