Host code execution via PVSCSI heap overflow
Published Jul 15, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Heap overflow in the PVSCSI controller in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion allows guest OS users to execute code on the host. The controller performs an out-of-bounds heap write, but Broadcom has not disclosed the triggering request field or missing bounds check. Exploitation requires local administrative privileges inside a virtual machine; ESXi confines execution to the VMX sandbox and supports exploitation only in unsupported configurations, while the desktop products expose the host.
Summary
What happened
Heap overflow in the PVSCSI controller in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion allows guest OS users to execute code on the host. The controller performs an out-of-bounds heap write, but Broadcom has not disclosed the triggering request field or missing bounds check. Exploitation requires local administrative privileges inside a virtual machine; ESXi confines execution to the VMX sandbox and supports exploitation only in unsupported configurations, while the desktop products expose the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-41238
- Published
- Jul 15, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- VMware
- Product
- VMware Workstation
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 20, 2025Exploitation reportedPwn2Own Berlin 2025 demonstration
- Jul 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=17.x <17.6.4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
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.
Reported exploitation
- Pwn2Own Berlin 2025 demonstrationreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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