CVE-2024-37085
VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Published Jun 25, 2024 · corrected/updated Jun 17, 2026 · vmware cloud foundation · evidence confidence very high
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.
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2024-37085 is a high public vulnerability record for vmware cloud foundation. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether vmware cloud foundation is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: vmware/cloud foundation; vmware/esxi (7.0); vmware/esxi (8.0); VMware ESXi. Published remediation guidance: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: CVSS 7.2, EPSS 26.8%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Weakness classes: CWE-287, CWE-305. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Confirmed in CISA KEV since Jul 30, 2024. Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Patch and remediation
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. CISA due date Aug 20, 2024.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
No public source repository is identified for this product.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Jun 25, 2024 · Catalog
Detected
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 delete
Jul 30, 2024 · CISA KEV
Known exploited
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Aug 20, 2024 · CISA KEV
Remediation due
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Jun 17, 2026 · Catalog
Updated
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 delete
Affected
- cpe vmware/cloud foundationversion unspecified
- cpe vmware/esxi7.0
- cpe vmware/esxi8.0
- vendor VMware ESXiversion unspecified
Sources
- CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2024-37085
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.
cisa.gov - CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2024-37085
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2024-37085
30-day exploitation probability 26.8%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2024-37085
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-vsp
nvd.nist.gov