VMware Tools 11.x / 12.x < 12.5.1 Authentication Bypass (VMSA-2025-0005)

high Nessus Plugin ID 233416

Synopsis

The virtualization tool suite is installed on the remote Windows host is affected by an authentication bypass vulnerability.

Description

The version of VMware Tools installed on the remote Windows host is 11.x or 12.x prior to 12.5.1. It is, therefore, affected by an authentication bypass vulnerability:

- VMware Tools for Windows contains an authentication bypass vulnerability due to improper access control. A malicious actor with non-administrative privileges on a guest VM may gain ability to perform certain high privilege operations within that VM. (CVE-2025-22230)

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Upgrade to VMware Tools version 12.5.1 or later.

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 233416

File Name: vmware_tools_win_VMSA-2025-0005.nasl

Version: 1.2

Type: local

Agent: windows

Family: Windows

Published: 3/27/2025

Updated: 3/28/2025

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Critical

Score: 9.0

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.8

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2025-22230

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:vmware:tools

Required KB Items: SMB/Registry/Enumerated, installed_sw/VMware Tools

Patch Publication Date: 3/25/2025

Vulnerability Publication Date: 3/25/2025

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2025-22230

IAVA: 2025-A-0199

VMSA: 2025-0005

Detections

Analytics