CVE-2024-37085
CVE-2024-37085 is a security flaw in VMware ESXi, VMware’s hypervisor, which runs virtual machines in data centres. Attackers can get into VMware ESXi without a valid password. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 30 Jul 2024, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
VMware ESXi is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version ESXi80U3-24022510, 5.2 and 5.0.
Description
CISA calls it an authentication bypass in VMware ESXi. In its words: “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.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “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 https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2012/09/joining-vsphere-hosts-to-active-directory.html by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-305, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| VMware ESXi | ESXi80U3-24022510 |
| cloud_foundation | 5.2 |
| cloud_foundation | 5.0 |
| esxi | ESXi80U3-24022510 |
Most families won’t have VMware ESXi; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 30 Jul 2024, 35 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 20 Aug 2024 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 27%. That’s in the top 2% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
VMware has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.VMware ESXi is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version ESXi80U3-24022510, 5.2 and 5.0), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 20 Aug 2024 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.2.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 27%.[4] |
See also
Other VMware ESXi flaws
- CVE-2025-22225: arbitrary write ·
- CVE-2020-3992: openSLP use-after-free ·
Other VMware flaws
- CVE-2025-22226, VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion: information disclosure ·
- CVE-2025-22224, VMware ESXi and Workstation: TOCTOU race condition ·
- CVE-2024-38813, VMware vCenter Server: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2024-38812, VMware vCenter Server: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2022-22948, VMware vCenter Server: incorrect default file permissions ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2025-31161, CrushFTP: authentication bypass ·
Every VMware flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in July 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 30 Jul 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2024-37085 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 25 Jun 2024.
- ^ VMware. Advisories and fixes: support.broadcom.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.268, percentile 98.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2024-37085”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.