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VMware · vCenter Server

CVE-2021-21972

VMware vCenter Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA KEV record

CISA date added
2021-11-03
CISA due date
2021-11-17
Known ransomware use
Known

NVD risk context

9.8 CRITICAL

CVSS is a technical severity score. CISA’s KEV status remains the evidence that this vulnerability is known to be exploited.

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Attack vector
Network
The vulnerable service can be reached remotely over a network.
Attack complexity
Low
Exploitation does not require unusual conditions beyond normal attacker control.
Privileges required
None
The attacker does not need an existing account or privileges.
User interaction
None
No action by another user is required.

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.

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

NVD reference index

Vendor and remediation references

NVD has tagged these sources as vendor advisories, patches, mitigations, or release notes.

Other NVD references (4)

MITRE CWE context

CWE classification

CWE-23 Relative Path Traversal

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.

View official MITRE CWE details ↗

NVD record timing

NVD record timeline

These dates describe NVD’s record, not CISA’s KEV addition or remediation due date.

NVD published
Feb 24, 2021, 05:15 PM UTC
When NVD first published this CVE record.
NVD last updated
Jun 17, 2026, 03:36 AM UTC
When NVD last changed its analysis or record data.
Advanced: view the technical CVSS vector

This standardized code is intended for security tools and technical analysts. The plain-language risk summary above explains its main points.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

View NVD record ↗

CISA notes

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21972