CVE-2021-22005

Confirmed PUBLISHED

The vCenter Server contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Analytics service. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on...

VMware · VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation

Exploited in the wild Used in malware PoC available

Recommended Action

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

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Confidence

Confirmed

Exploitation Status

Exploited in the wild

Observed in Sensors

Attempts (30d)

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Unique Attacker IPs

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CISA KEV

In CISA KEV

CVSS / EPSS

9.8 Critical EPSS 100.0%

At a Glance

The vCenter Server contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Analytics service. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on vCenter Server may exploit this issue to execute code on vCenter Server by uploading a specially crafted file.

ransomware malware metasploit cisa nuclei_scanner

CVE Published: Sep 23, 2021
Exploitation Reported: Nov 03, 2021
CVSS: 9.8 Critical
EPSS: 100.0%

Remote Low complexity No user interaction Unauthenticated

Affected Versions

Vendor	Product	Version	Status
n/a	VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation	VMware vCenter Server(7.x before 7.0 U2c and 6.7 before 6.7 U3o) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x before 4.3 and 3.x before 3.10.2.2)	Affected

CVE References

vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.html vmware.com · CVE Record https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.html
packetstormsecurity.com/files/164439/VMware-vCenter-Server-Analytics... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164439/VMware-vCenter-Server-Ana...

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.

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Source	Added
CISA First	2021-11-03 00:00 UTC
The Shadowserver	2026-07-08 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-2021-22005.yaml	Apr 25, 2025
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/vmware_vcenter_analytics_file_upload.rb	Apr 28, 2025

CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 9.8 Critical

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

CVSS v2.0 7.5 High

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Exploitation Status

Exploited in the wild

Recorded 2021-11-03 00:00:00 UTC · CISA

Used in malware

Recorded 2021-11-03 00:00:00 UTC · CISA

Proof of concept available

Recorded 2021-09-23 00:09:03 UTC · GitHub

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-22

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Scanner Integrations

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/vmware_vcenter_analytics_file_upload.rb	Apr 28, 2025
Nuclei	https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-22005.yaml	Apr 25, 2025

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

Jun-5heng/CVE-2021-22005

github · Created 2021-10-27 08:36:21 UTC · 20 stars

VMware vCenter Server任意文件上传漏洞 / Code By:Jun_sheng

tiagob0b/CVE-2021-22005

github · Created 2021-10-24 23:14:01 UTC · 2 stars

TaroballzChen/CVE-2021-22005-metasploit

github · Created 2021-10-02 07:32:04 UTC · 24 stars

the metasploit script(POC/EXP) about CVE-2021-22005 VMware vCenter Server contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability

rwincey/CVE-2021-22005

github · Created 2021-09-28 21:06:59 UTC · 37 stars

5gstudent/CVE-2021-22005-

github · Created 2021-09-25 07:19:42 UTC · 12 stars

CVE-2021-22005批量验证python脚本

1ZRR4H/CVE-2021-22005

github · Created 2021-09-23 00:09:03 UTC · 8 stars

VMware vCenter Server - Arbitrary File Upload

nuclei · Created Unknown

vmware_vcenter_analytics_file_upload

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2021-22005

Timeline

Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.

8 Jul 2026 00:00 UTC 15 days ago

8 Jul 2026 00:00 UTC · 15 days ago

KEV confirmed by The Shadowserver

Exploitation attested by an external source
28 Apr 2025 15:02 UTC about 1 year ago

28 Apr 2025 15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago

Metasploit module available

Exploit module available
25 Apr 2025 00:00 UTC about 1 year ago

25 Apr 2025 00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago

Nuclei template available

Scanner coverage available
3 Nov 2021 00:00 UTC over 4 years ago

3 Nov 2021 00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago

Added to CISA KEV

Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
3 Nov 2021 00:00 UTC over 4 years ago

3 Nov 2021 00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago

First public exploitation report

Exploit observed in malware
23 Sep 2021 11:37 UTC almost 5 years ago

23 Sep 2021 11:37 UTC · almost 5 years ago

CVE published

Vulnerability disclosed publicly
23 Sep 2021 00:09 UTC almost 5 years ago

23 Sep 2021 00:09 UTC · almost 5 years ago

Public PoC available

Public proof-of-concept code published
4 Jan 2021 00:00 UTC over 5 years ago

4 Jan 2021 00:00 UTC · over 5 years ago

CVE ID reserved

Identifier reserved by the CNA

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Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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Pro API Example

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2021-22005

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2021-22005",
  "title": "The vCenter Server contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Ana...",
  "affected_vendor": "VMware",
  "affected_product": "VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation",
  "affected_versions": [
    { "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
  ],
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 9.8,
  "epss_score": 0.99999,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
  "proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
  "scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}

The free JSON API returns basic KEV fields only. Confidence, telemetry, and artifact enrichment require Pro API access.

CVE-2021-22005

At a Glance

Affected Versions

CVE References

Recommended Actions

Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources

Scanner Artifacts

Virtual Patch

CVSS Scores

Exploitation Status

Weaknesses (CWE)

Scanner Integrations

Potential Proof of Concepts

Timeline

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