CVE-2021-21975
Confirmed PUBLISHEDServer Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API (CVE-2021-21975) prior to 8.4 may allow a malicious actor with network access to the...
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API (CVE-2021-21975) prior to 8.4 may allow a malicious actor with network access to the vRealize Operations Manager API can perform a Server Side Request Forgery attack to steal administrative credentials.
- CVE Published
- Mar 31, 2021
- Exploitation Reported
- Jan 18, 2022
- CVSS
- 7.5 High
- EPSS
- 78.3%
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a |
VMware vRealize Operations
|
VMware vRealize Operations prior to 8.4 |
Affected |
CVE References
- vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0004.html vmware.com · CVE Record https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0004.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/162349/VMware-vRealize-Operations-Mana... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162349/VMware-vRealize-Operation...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2022-01-18 00:00 UTC |
| The Shadowserver | 2026-06-07 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-21975.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/vmware_vrops_mgr_ssrf_rce.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2022-01-18 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Used in malware
Recorded 2022-01-18 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2021-03-31 13:33:45 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/vmware_vrops_mgr_ssrf_rce.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-21975.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2021-04-10 12:36:07 UTC · 3 stars
VMWare-CVE-2021-21975 SSRF vulnerability
github · Created 2021-04-02 21:14:06 UTC · 4 stars
[CVE-2021-21975] VMware vRealize Operations Manager API Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
github · Created 2021-04-01 21:59:05 UTC · 28 stars
Nmap script to check vulnerability CVE-2021-21975
github · Created 2021-03-31 15:40:09 UTC · 13 stars
CVE-2021-21975 vRealize Operations Manager SSRF
github · Created 2021-03-31 13:33:45 UTC · 2 stars
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
00:00 UTC about 1 month ago00:00 UTC · about 1 month ago
KEV confirmed by The Shadowserver
Exploitation attested by an external source
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC about 1 year ago00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
First public exploitation report
Exploit observed in malware
-
17:51 UTC over 5 years ago17:51 UTC · over 5 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
13:33 UTC over 5 years ago13:33 UTC · over 5 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
00:00 UTC over 5 years ago00:00 UTC · over 5 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2021-21975
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2021-21975",
"title": "Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API (CVE-2021-2197...",
"affected_vendor": "VMware",
"affected_product": "VMware vRealize Operations",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 7.5,
"epss_score": 0.7829,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}