VMware provides some functions to permit data access inside of the VM:
- HGFS: This is used to transfer files between the host and the VMs. Note that this capability is actually only leveraged on Workstation/Player/Fusion, and it's not implemented in ESXi.
- Copy and paste between the guest OS and remote console: By default, this feature is disabled, as recommended for a secure environment. If copy and paste is enabled and the VM has VMware Tools installed, you can copy and paste between the guest operating system and the remote console.
You can control those features by using the vSphere Web Client: select a VM, right-click on the VM, and click on Edit Settings. In the VM Options tab, click on Advanced, and click on ...