Broadcom VMWare ESX Insufficient Logging
CVE-2026-41709 is a low-severity insufficient logging vulnerability in Cloud Foundation from VMware, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 2.7 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.2.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating Cloud Foundation to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on October 28, 2026, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Cloud Foundation to 5.2.4 or a later version.
- Update ESX to ESXi-9.1.0.0-25370933 or ESXi-9.0.2.0100-25595025 or ESXi80U3j-25429389, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Esxi to 9.0.2.0100 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
- Read the advisory on support.broadcom.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| VMware | Cloud Foundation | 9.1.x.x; 9.0.x.x; 5.x up to, but not including, 5.2.4 | 5.2.4 |
| VMware | vSphere Foundation | 9.1.x.x; 9.0.x.x | Not stated |
| VMware | ESX | 9.1.x.x up to, but not including, ESXi-9.1.0.0-25370933; 9.0.x.x up to, but not including, ESXi-9.0.2.0100-25595025; 8.0 up to, but not including, ESXi80U3j-25429389 | ESXi-9.1.0.0-25370933, ESXi-9.0.2.0100-25595025, ESXi80U3j-25429389 |
| VMware | Telco Cloud Platform | 5.1.x; 5.0.x | Not stated |
| VMware | Esxi | 9.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.0.2.0100; 8.0 | 9.0.2.0100 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N. Scored by CNA (vmware.com).
Official description
VMware ESX contains an insufficient logging vulnerability. A malicious administrator could exploit this issue to perform certain operations without them being logged.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficient Logging
When a security-critical event occurs, the product either does not record the event or omits important details about the event when logging it.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a centralized logging mechanism that supports multiple levels of detail.
- Ensure that all security-related successes and failures can be logged. When storing data in the cloud (e.g., AWS S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to enable and capture detailed logging information.
- Be sure to set the level of logging appropriately in a production environment. Sufficient data should be logged to enable system administrators to detect attacks, diagnose errors, and recover from attacks. At the same time, logging too much data (CWE-779) can cause the same problems, including unexpected costs when using a cloud environment.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
References
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-41709US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in Cloud Foundation
- 9.8 Critical severity
Broadcom VMware vCenter Path Traversal Exploited
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.0 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Insufficient Logging vulnerabilities
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
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