CVE-2021-21972

VMware vCenter Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

VMware vCenter ServerContainers & cloud

CVSS

9.8Critical

ExploitationExploited in the wildAdded to KEV 3 Nov 2021. Known ransomware useCISA KEV

Exploit odds (EPSS)99.9%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS

Fixed inNone listedNo source names a fixed version. Check the vendor advisory below

Federal deadline17 Nov 2021Remediation due date for US federal agenciesCISA KEV

CISA required actionApply updates per vendor instructions. CISA KEV

What fixes it

No source in this snapshot names a fixed version. The vendor advisories under References are the place to check.

Timeline

23 Feb 2021Exploit code publicMetasploit
24 Feb 2021, 16:42 UTCPublishedCVE List
3 Nov 2021Added to CISA KEVCISA KEV

Public exploit code and templates 4

Exploit moduleVMware vCenter Server Unauthenticated OVA File Upload RCE 23 Feb 2021Metasploit
Webapps exploitVMware vCenter Server 7.0 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) (Unauthenticated) 24 Jun 2021Exploit-DB
Webapps exploitVMware vCenter Server 7.0 - Unauthenticated File Upload 1 Mar 2021Exploit-DB
Scanner templateVMware vSphere Client (HTML5) - Remote Code ExecutionNuclei

Listed so defenders can prioritize. Threatline links to the source and does not host exploit code.

Description

VMware vCenter Server vSphere Client contains a remote code execution vulnerability in a vCenter Server plugin which allows an attacker with network access to port 443 to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 5

VMware vCenter Serveraffected: 7.x before 7.0 U1cCVE List
VMware vCenter Serveraffected: 6.7 before 6.7 U3lCVE List
VMware vCenter Serveraffected: 6.5 before 6.5 U3nCVE List
VMware Cloud Foundationaffected: 4.x before 4.2CVE List
VMware Cloud Foundationaffected: 3.x before 3.10.1.2CVE List