CVE-2025-41244 Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools: privilege escalation
In plain words: Something running with limited rights can promote itself to full control. Turns a small foothold (like a malicious app) into administrator or system-level access.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Nov 20, 2025
What to do
- Install Broadcom's security update for VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools Privilege Defined with Unsafe Actions Vulnerability
- Product
- Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools
- CISA description
- 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.
- Type of flaw
- Privilege escalation (CWE-267)
- Confirmed exploited
- Oct 30, 2025
- US federal patch deadline
- Nov 20, 2025
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Answering about CVE-2025-41244 ·
Questions about CVE-2025-41244
Is CVE-2025-41244 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2025-41244 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Oct 30, 2025, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2025-41244?
Install Broadcom's security update for VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2025-41244?
Only if you use Broadcom VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.