VMware Aria operations: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2025-22231 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in VMware Aria operations from VMware, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 8.18 HF5 as the first without the flaw, so updating VMware Aria operations to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update VMware Aria operations to 8.18 HF5 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| VMware | VMware Aria operations | 8.x up to, but not including, 8.18 HF5 | 8.18 HF5 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vmware.com).
Official description
VMware Aria Operations contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges can escalate their privileges to root on the appliance running VMware Aria Operations.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in VMware Aria operations
- 8.0 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.