CVE-2021-22005: VMware vCenter Server File Upload Vulnerability
- Is it exploited?
Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 3 Nov 2021, 41 days after the CVE record was published.
- How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?
- 100%
EPSS score, percentile 100 of all scored records
- How severe?
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS v3.1 base score, from CISA's enrichment of the record
- What should I do?
Required action (CISA), due 17 Nov 2021: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
- Which versions are affected?
Affected: VMware vCenter Server(7.x before 7.0 U2c and 6.7 before 6.7 U3o) and VMware Clo…
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
What to do
Required action, set by CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA due date for this action: 17 November 2021.
Advisories and patches
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
Linked from CISA's catalog entry
Affected products and versions
As listed in the CVE record.
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | VMware vCenter Server(7.x before 7.0 U2c and 6.7 before 6.7 U3o) and VMware Clo… |
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
About this vulnerability
VMware vCenter Server contains a file upload vulnerability in the Analytics service that allows a user with network access to port 443 to execute code.
Summary: CISA's KEV catalog, as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA added CVE-2021-22005 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 3 Nov 2021.
- CISA marks it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- The due date CISA sets for the required action is 17 Nov 2021.
- The CVE record was published on 23 Sep 2021, 41 days before it was added to KEV.
- The CVE record carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical), taken from CISA's enrichment of the record.
- FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 100% (percentile 100), as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation active, automatable yes, technical impact total.
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Description
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.
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Weakness
CWE and CAPEC are maintained by MITRE; the entries are those named in the CVE record and the KEV entry.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 23 Sep 2021 | CVE record published |
| 3 Nov 2021 | Added to CISA KEV |
| 17 Nov 2021 | CISA due date for the required action |
| 21 Oct 2025 | CVE record last updated |
References
More exploited VMware vulnerabilities
- CVE-2025-22224: VMware ESXi and Workstation TOCTOU Race Condition Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-22225: VMware ESXi Arbitrary Write Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-22226: VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion Information Disclosure Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-38812: VMware vCenter Server Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-38813: VMware vCenter Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-37085: VMware ESXi Authentication Bypass Vulnerability