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Findings

CVE-2021-21972

VMware vCenter Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Feb 24, 2021 · updated Aug 11, 2026 · vmware cloud foundation

The vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a remote code execution vulnerability in a vCenter Server plugin. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 may exploit this issue to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system that hosts vCenter Server. This affects VMware vCenter Server (7.x before 7.0 U1c, 6.7 before 6.7 U3l and 6.5 before 6.5 U3n) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x before 4.2 and 3.x before 3.10.1.2).

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Feb 24, 2021 · Catalog

    Detected

    The vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a remote code execution vulnerability in a vCenter Server plugin. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 may exploit this issue to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system that hosts vCenter Server. This affects VMware vCenter Server (7.x before 7.0 U1c, 6.7 before 6.7 U3l and 6.5 before 6.5 U3n) and VMware Clou

  2. Nov 3, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Nov 17, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Aug 11, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    The vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a remote code execution vulnerability in a vCenter Server plugin. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 may exploit this issue to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system that hosts vCenter Server. This affects VMware vCenter Server (7.x before 7.0 U1c, 6.7 before 6.7 U3l and 6.5 before 6.5 U3n) and VMware Clou

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date Nov 17, 2021

Affected

  • cpe vmware/cloud foundationversion unspecified
  • cpe vmware/vcenter server6.5
  • vendor VMware vCenter Serverversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2021-21972

    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.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2021-21972

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2021-21972

    30-day exploitation probability 99.9%

    first.org
  • Exploit Database49602

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Exploit Database50056

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit Modulesexploit_multi/http/vmware_vcenter_uploadova_rce

    Public module reference (manual). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDCVE-2021-21972

    The vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a remote code execution vulnerability in a vCenter Server plugin. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 may exploit this issue to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system that hosts vCenter Se

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm Securityhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161590/VMware-vCenter-Server-7.0-Arbitrary-File-Upload.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm Securityhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161695/VMware-vCenter-Server-File-Upload-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm Securityhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163268/VMware-vCenter-6.5-6.7-7.0-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References