diff --git a/block/src/formats/mod.rs b/block/src/formats/mod.rs
index d199e9cc2..2c082fb1d 100644
--- a/block/src/formats/mod.rs
+++ b/block/src/formats/mod.rs
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ pub mod qcow;
 pub mod raw;
 pub mod vhd;
 pub mod vhdx;
+pub mod vmdk;
diff --git a/block/src/formats/vmdk/descriptor.rs b/block/src/formats/vmdk/descriptor.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..678d679a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/block/src/formats/vmdk/descriptor.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,513 @@
+// Copyright © 2026, Microsoft Corporation
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+//! Parser for the flat VMDK text descriptor.
+//!
+//! A flat VMDK stores its layout in a small text descriptor: a header, a list
+//! of `FLAT` extent lines, and a disk database (DDB). Only the `monolithicFlat`
+//! and `twoGbMaxExtentFlat` create types are recognized.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::fs::File;
+use std::io;
+use std::os::unix::fs::FileExt;
+use std::str::Lines;
+
+use crate::AlignedFile;
+
+const VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_HEADER: &str = "# Disk DescriptorFile";
+const VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_EXTENTS: &str = "# Extent description";
+const VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_DDB: &str = "# The Disk Data Base";
+const VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_DDB_2: &str = "#DDB";
+
+/// Flat VMDK create types.
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub enum VMDKDiskType {
+    #[default]
+    CreateTypeUnsupported,
+    MonolithicFlat,
+    TwoGbMaxExtentFlat,
+}
+
+/// Flat VMDK extent line fields.
+/// Format of each extent line:
+/// `<access> <sectors> <type> "<file>" [offset]`.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct VmdkExtentHeader {
+    pub access: String,
+    pub size_in_sectors: u64,
+    pub extent_type: String,
+    pub filename: String,
+    pub offset_in_sectors: u64,
+}
+
+/// Descriptor header fields.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct VmdkDescriptorHeader {
+    pub version: u32,
+    pub cid: u32,
+    pub parent_cid: u32,
+    pub create_type: VMDKDiskType,
+    pub parent_filename_hint: String,
+}
+
+/// Ordered list of extents.
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct VmdkDescriptorExtents {
+    pub extents: Vec<VmdkExtentHeader>,
+}
+/// Disk database.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct VmdkDescriptorDdb {
+    pub entries: HashMap<String, String>,
+}
+
+// Read the whole descriptor into memory through an `AlignedFile` and return it
+// as a `String`.
+fn read_descriptor(file: &File) -> io::Result<String> {
+    let aligned = AlignedFile::new(file.try_clone()?, true);
+    let len = file.metadata()?.len() as usize;
+    let mut buf = vec![0u8; len];
+    let mut filled = 0;
+    while filled < buf.len() {
+        match aligned.read_at(&mut buf[filled..], filled as u64) {
+            Ok(0) => break,
+            Ok(n) => filled += n,
+            Err(ref e) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => continue,
+            Err(e) => return Err(e),
+        }
+    }
+    buf.truncate(filled);
+    // A descriptor is ASCII text, so invalid UTF-8 means "not a descriptor".
+    String::from_utf8(buf).map_err(|_| {
+        io::Error::new(
+            io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "VMDK descriptor is not valid UTF-8",
+        )
+    })
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn parse_header<'a>(
+    lines: &mut Lines<'a>,
+) -> io::Result<(VmdkDescriptorHeader, &'a str)> {
+    let header_line = lines.next().unwrap_or_default();
+
+    // Reject actual disk data (or an embedded descriptor, which is
+    // unsupported): a flat descriptor must start with the header line.
+    if header_line.trim_end() != VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_HEADER {
+        return Err(io::Error::new(
+            io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            format!("Not a VMDK descriptor file: missing header: {header_line}"),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let mut header = VmdkDescriptorHeader::default();
+    let mut last_comment_line = "";
+
+    for line in lines.by_ref() {
+        if line.starts_with('#') {
+            // End of the header section.
+            last_comment_line = line;
+            break;
+        }
+        let parts: Vec<&str> = line.split('=').map(|s| s.trim()).collect();
+        if parts.len() == 2 {
+            match parts[0] {
+                "version" => header.version = parts[1].parse().unwrap_or(0),
+                "CID" => header.cid = u32::from_str_radix(parts[1], 16).unwrap_or(0),
+                "parentCID" => header.parent_cid = u32::from_str_radix(parts[1], 16).unwrap_or(0),
+                "createType" => {
+                    // Tools such as qemu-img quote the value, e.g.
+                    // createType="monolithicFlat", strip the quotes.
+                    header.create_type = match parts[1].trim_matches('"') {
+                        "monolithicFlat" => VMDKDiskType::MonolithicFlat,
+                        "twoGbMaxExtentFlat" => VMDKDiskType::TwoGbMaxExtentFlat,
+                        _ => VMDKDiskType::CreateTypeUnsupported,
+                    }
+                }
+                "parentFileNameHint" => header.parent_filename_hint = parts[1].to_string(),
+                _ => {}
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok((header, last_comment_line))
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn parse_extents_and_ddb(
+    lines: &mut Lines<'_>,
+    last_comment_line: &str,
+) -> io::Result<(VmdkDescriptorExtents, VmdkDescriptorDdb)> {
+    let mut extents = VmdkDescriptorExtents::default();
+    let mut ddb = VmdkDescriptorDdb::default();
+
+    if last_comment_line != VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_EXTENTS {
+        return Err(io::Error::new(
+            io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "Expected the extents section comment line",
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let mut in_extents_section = true;
+    for line in lines.by_ref() {
+        if line.trim().is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if line.starts_with('#') {
+            if line == VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_DDB || line == VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_DDB_2 {
+                in_extents_section = false;
+                continue;
+            }
+            return Err(io::Error::new(
+                io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                "Expected the DDB section comment line",
+            ));
+        }
+        if in_extents_section {
+            let parts: Vec<&str> = line.split_whitespace().collect();
+            if parts.len() == 4 || parts.len() == 5 {
+                let size_in_sectors = parts[1].parse::<u64>().map_err(|_| {
+                    io::Error::new(
+                        io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                        format!(
+                            "VMDK extent size '{}' is not a valid sector count",
+                            parts[1]
+                        ),
+                    )
+                })?;
+                let offset_in_sectors = match parts.get(4) {
+                    Some(offset) => offset.parse::<u64>().map_err(|_| {
+                        io::Error::new(
+                            io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                            format!("VMDK extent offset '{offset}' is not a valid sector count"),
+                        )
+                    })?,
+                    None => 0,
+                };
+                let extent = VmdkExtentHeader {
+                    access: parts[0].to_string(),
+                    size_in_sectors,
+                    extent_type: parts[2].to_string(),
+                    filename: parts[3].trim_matches('"').to_string(),
+                    offset_in_sectors,
+                };
+                extents.extents.push(extent);
+            } else {
+                return Err(io::Error::new(
+                    io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+                    "Malformed VMDK extent line",
+                ));
+            }
+        } else {
+            let parts: Vec<&str> = line.split('=').map(|s| s.trim()).collect();
+            if parts.len() == 2 {
+                ddb.entries
+                    .insert(parts[0].to_string(), parts[1].to_string());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok((extents, ddb))
+}
+
+/// Returns true when `prefix` begins with the `# Disk DescriptorFile` header.
+pub fn has_descriptor_header(prefix: &[u8]) -> bool {
+    prefix.starts_with(VMDK_DESCRIPTOR_HEADER.as_bytes())
+}
+
+/// Returns true for a supported flat VMDK: create type `monolithicFlat` or
+/// `twoGbMaxExtentFlat` with only `FLAT` extents.
+pub fn is_flat_vmdk(f: &mut File) -> io::Result<bool> {
+    let content = match read_descriptor(f) {
+        Ok(content) => content,
+        Err(e) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::InvalidData => return Ok(false),
+        Err(e) => return Err(e),
+    };
+    let mut lines = content.lines();
+
+    let (header, last_line) = match parse_header(&mut lines) {
+        Ok(parsed) => parsed,
+        Err(e) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::InvalidData => return Ok(false),
+        Err(e) => return Err(e),
+    };
+
+    match header.create_type {
+        VMDKDiskType::MonolithicFlat | VMDKDiskType::TwoGbMaxExtentFlat => {}
+        _ => return Ok(false),
+    }
+
+    let extents = match parse_extents_and_ddb(&mut lines, last_line) {
+        Ok((extents, _ddb)) => extents,
+        Err(e) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::InvalidData => return Ok(false),
+        Err(e) => return Err(e),
+    };
+
+    for extent in &extents.extents {
+        if extent.extent_type != "FLAT" {
+            return Ok(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(true)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn parse_hdr(input: &str) -> io::Result<(VmdkDescriptorHeader, String)> {
+        let mut lines = input.lines();
+        let (header, last) = parse_header(&mut lines)?;
+        Ok((header, last.to_string()))
+    }
+
+    fn parse_body(
+        last_comment: &str,
+        body: &str,
+    ) -> io::Result<(VmdkDescriptorExtents, VmdkDescriptorDdb)> {
+        let mut lines = body.lines();
+        parse_extents_and_ddb(&mut lines, last_comment)
+    }
+
+    // Two-stage parse, as `VmdkDescriptor::new` chains it.
+    fn parse_full(
+        input: &str,
+    ) -> io::Result<(
+        VmdkDescriptorHeader,
+        VmdkDescriptorExtents,
+        VmdkDescriptorDdb,
+    )> {
+        let mut lines = input.lines();
+        let (header, last) = parse_header(&mut lines)?;
+        let (extents, ddb) = parse_extents_and_ddb(&mut lines, last)?;
+        Ok((header, extents, ddb))
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn single_flat_extent_with_ddb() {
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\"\n\
+                          # The Disk Data Base\n\
+                          ddb.adapterType = \"ide\"\n\
+                          ddb.geometry.sectors = \"63\"\n";
+
+        let (extents, ddb) = parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 1);
+        let e = &extents.extents[0];
+        assert_eq!(e.access, "RW");
+        assert_eq!(e.size_in_sectors, 2_097_152);
+        assert_eq!(e.extent_type, "FLAT");
+        assert_eq!(e.filename, "disk-flat.vmdk");
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            ddb.entries.get("ddb.adapterType").map(String::as_str),
+            Some("\"ide\"")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ddb.entries.get("ddb.geometry.sectors").map(String::as_str),
+            Some("\"63\"")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn multiple_extents_two_gb_max() {
+        let body: &str = "RW 4192256 FLAT \"disk-s001.vmdk\"\n\
+                          RW 4192256 FLAT \"disk-s002.vmdk\"\n\
+                          RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-s003.vmdk\"\n\
+                          # The Disk Data Base\n\
+                          ddb.adapterType = \"lsilogic\"\n";
+
+        let (extents, _ddb) = parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].filename, "disk-s001.vmdk");
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[2].filename, "disk-s003.vmdk");
+        assert!(extents.extents.iter().all(|e| e.extent_type == "FLAT"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extent_line_with_optional_offset_field() {
+        // 5-field form: <access> <sectors> <type> <file> <offset>
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\" 0\n";
+
+        let (extents, _ddb) = parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].filename, "disk-flat.vmdk");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extent_access_modes_are_preserved() {
+        let body: &str = "RDONLY 2097152 FLAT \"ro.vmdk\"\n\
+                          NOACCESS 1048576 FLAT \"noaccess.vmdk\"\n";
+
+        let (extents, _ddb) = parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].access, "RDONLY");
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[1].access, "NOACCESS");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_wrong_leading_comment() {
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\"\n";
+        // Must be told we are at "# Extent description", anything else errors.
+        parse_body("# The Disk Data Base", body).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_malformed_extent_line() {
+        // Only three fields -> malformed.
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT\n";
+        parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_non_numeric_extent_size() {
+        // A non-numeric sector count must be rejected, not coerced to 0.
+        let body: &str = "RW notanumber FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\"\n";
+        parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_non_numeric_extent_offset() {
+        // A non-numeric trailing offset must be rejected too.
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\" xyz\n";
+        parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_unexpected_comment_in_body() {
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\"\n\
+                          # Some other comment\n";
+        parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn skips_blank_line_inside_extent_section() {
+        // qemu-img emits a blank line between the last extent and the
+        // "# The Disk Data Base" marker, it must be skipped, not rejected.
+        let body: &str = "RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\"\n\
+                          \n\
+                          # The Disk Data Base\n";
+        let (extents, _ddb) = parse_body("# Extent description", body).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].filename, "disk-flat.vmdk");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_missing_descriptor_header() {
+        let input: &str = "NOT_A_DESCRIPTOR\nversion=1\n";
+        parse_hdr(input).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_header_fields() {
+        let input: &str = "# Disk DescriptorFile\n\
+                           version=1\n\
+                           CID=fffffffe\n\
+                           parentCID=ffffffff\n\
+                           createType=monolithicFlat\n\
+                           # Extent description\n";
+
+        let (header, last) = parse_hdr(input).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(header.version, 1);
+        assert_eq!(header.cid, 0xffff_fffe);
+        assert_eq!(header.parent_cid, 0xffff_ffff);
+        assert!(matches!(header.create_type, VMDKDiskType::MonolithicFlat));
+        assert_eq!(last, "# Extent description");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_quoted_create_type() {
+        let input: &str = "# Disk DescriptorFile\n\
+                           version=1\n\
+                           createType=\"twoGbMaxExtentFlat\"\n\
+                           # Extent description\n";
+
+        let (header, _last) = parse_hdr(input).unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            header.create_type,
+            VMDKDiskType::TwoGbMaxExtentFlat
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn full_monolithic_flat_descriptor() {
+        let input: &str = "# Disk DescriptorFile\n\
+                           version=1\n\
+                           createType=monolithicFlat\n\
+                           # Extent description\n\
+                           RW 2097152 FLAT \"disk-flat.vmdk\"\n\
+                           # The Disk Data Base\n\
+                           ddb.adapterType = \"ide\"\n";
+
+        let (header, extents, ddb) = parse_full(input).unwrap();
+
+        assert!(matches!(header.create_type, VMDKDiskType::MonolithicFlat));
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].access, "RW");
+        assert_eq!(
+            ddb.entries.get("ddb.adapterType").map(String::as_str),
+            Some("\"ide\"")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn full_two_gb_max_extent_flat_descriptor() {
+        let input: &str = "# Disk DescriptorFile\n\
+                           version=1\n\
+                           createType=twoGbMaxExtentFlat\n\
+                           # Extent description\n\
+                           RW 4192256 FLAT \"disk-s001.vmdk\"\n\
+                           RW 4192256 FLAT \"disk-s002.vmdk\"\n\
+                           # The Disk Data Base\n";
+
+        let (header, extents, _ddb) = parse_full(input).unwrap();
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            header.create_type,
+            VMDKDiskType::TwoGbMaxExtentFlat
+        ));
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn full_qemu_style_descriptor() {
+        // Mirrors a real qemu-img monolithicFlat descriptor: quoted createType,
+        // blank lines between sections, 5-field extent line with a trailing
+        // offset, and the "#DDB" marker form.
+        let input: &str = "# Disk DescriptorFile\n\
+                           version=1\n\
+                           CID=eb2295a4\n\
+                           parentCID=ffffffff\n\
+                           createType=\"monolithicFlat\"\n\
+                           \n\
+                           # Extent description\n\
+                           RW 6291456 FLAT \"t-flat.vmdk\" 0\n\
+                           \n\
+                           # The Disk Data Base\n\
+                           #DDB\n\
+                           \n\
+                           ddb.virtualHWVersion = \"4\"\n\
+                           ddb.adapterType = \"ide\"\n";
+
+        let (header, extents, ddb) = parse_full(input).unwrap();
+
+        assert!(matches!(header.create_type, VMDKDiskType::MonolithicFlat));
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].access, "RW");
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].size_in_sectors, 6_291_456);
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].extent_type, "FLAT");
+        assert_eq!(extents.extents[0].filename, "t-flat.vmdk");
+        assert_eq!(
+            ddb.entries.get("ddb.adapterType").map(String::as_str),
+            Some("\"ide\"")
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/block/src/formats/vmdk/mod.rs b/block/src/formats/vmdk/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..90493daee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/block/src/formats/vmdk/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// Copyright 2026 The Cloud Hypervisor Authors. All rights reserved.
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+//! Flat VMDK block backend.
+//!
+//! Supports the `monolithicFlat` and `twoGbMaxExtentFlat` create types with
+//! synchronous, extent-aware I/O.
+
+mod descriptor;
+
+pub use descriptor::{has_descriptor_header, is_flat_vmdk};