Security readout for executives and security teams
CVE-2021-22005 lets an unauthenticated attacker who can reach vCenter Server on port 443 upload a crafted file and potentially run code. Because vCenter manages virtualization infrastructure, compromise can affect a core control plane. CISA lists this CVE as known exploited. Exposure is most likely where VMware vCenter Server 7.x before 7.0 U2c, 6.7 before 6.7 U3o, or VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x before 4.3 or 3.x before 3.10.2.2 is reachable on port 443. Treat as urgent remediation for any reachable vCenter instance. This is a critical, unauthenticated remote code execution path against virtualization management, and CISA KEV confirms real-world exploitation. Mitigation focus: Upgrade vCenter Server to 7.0 U2c, 6.7 U3o, or later supported fixed versions.; Upgrade VMware Cloud Foundation to 4.3, 3.10.2.2, or later supported fixed versions.; Restrict network access to vCenter port 443 to trusted administration paths..
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-22005 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
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CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22005CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.