CVE-2025-22247

Protected-file read and modification via VGAuth alias paths

Published May 12, 2025 · Updated Nov 18, 2025

Insecure file handling in VMware Tools 11.x.x and 12.x.x before 12.5.2 allows local users to read or alter files in a guest VM. The VGAuth service forms alias-store paths from insufficiently validated user names and follows unexpected links when loading alias files. Non-administrative guest access is required; successful path tampering permits limited disclosure and high-impact file modification within that guest.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insecure file handling in VMware Tools 11.x.x and 12.x.x before 12.5.2 allows local users to read or alter files in a guest VM. The VGAuth service forms alias-store paths from insufficiently validated user names and follows unexpected links when loading alias files. Non-administrative guest access is required; successful path tampering permits limited disclosure and high-impact file modification within that guest.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-22247
Published
May 12, 2025
Updated
Nov 18, 2025
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware Tools
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 18, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=12.x.x, 11.x.x <12.5.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware Toolsversion=12.x.x, 11.x.x <12.5.2

Published CVSS scores

6.1VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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