Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

Is CVE-2024-37085 exploited? Yes: in CISA KEV since 30 Jul 2024

Gociux · VMware ESXi · data: CISA KEV, CVE record, FIRST EPSS

Yes. CVE-2024-37085, VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 30 Jul 2024, 35 days after it was published. It is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. It affects VMware ESXi. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

What it is

VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.

What to do

1. Check whether you run it. Look for ESXi in your asset inventory, including appliances and cloud images. Stack check lists every exploited VMware CVE at once.
2. Apply the fix. Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
3. If you can't patch today, take the affected service off the internet or restrict who can reach it, and check its logs for signs of compromise since 25 Jun 2024.
4. Get told next time. Email alerts when CISA adds a CVE for VMware.

Other exploited CVEs in ESXi

• CVE-2025-22225: VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability (4 Mar 2025)
• CVE-2020-3992: VMware ESXi OpenSLP Use-After-Free Vulnerability (3 Nov 2021)

References

• support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/Sec
• nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-37085

Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in July 2024 · VMware scorecard · act-now radar.