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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2021-22015

The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories.

Published Sep 23, 2021 · catalog updated Jun 17, 2026 · cloud foundation

Last checked Nov 5, 2026. A connected source was read within the last 7 days.

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2021-22015. EPSS is 1.94%. Act only if a listed version of cloud foundation is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.

Same product and reporting

Severity
High7.8
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
1.94%
Remediation
Version ranges on file
Affected products
cpe vmware/cloud foundation · cpe vmware/vcenter server

The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories. An authenticated local user with non-administrative privilege may exploit these issues to elevate their privileges to root on vCenter Server Appliance.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe vmware/cloud foundation< 5.0
  • cpe vmware/vcenter server6.5
  • cpe vmware/vcenter server6.7
  • cpe vmware/vcenter server7.0

How to fix CVE-2021-22015

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2021-22015. EPSS is 1.94%. Act only if a listed version of cloud foundation is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with vmware/cloud foundation < 5.0; vmware/vcenter server 6.5; vmware/vcenter server 6.7; vmware/vcenter server 7.0. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties. EPSS 1.94%. There is no CISA KEV listing. A public exploit reference is linked in Sources. That is not the same as confirmed exploitation. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Technology hubs

VMware security

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Sep 23, 2021 · Monitored products — critical

    Detected

    The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories. An authenticated local user with non-administrative privilege may exploit these issues to elevate their privileges to root on vCenter Server Appliance.

  2. Jun 17, 2026 · Monitored products — critical

    Updated

    The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories. An authenticated local user with non-administrative privilege may exploit these issues to elevate their privileges to root on vCenter Server Appliance.

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2021-22015

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • Monitored products — criticalVendor advisoryCVE-2021-22015

    The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories. An authenticated local user with non-administrative privilege may exploit these issues to elevate their privileges to root on vCenter Server Appliance.

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_linux/local/vcenter_java_wrapper_vmon_priv_esc

    Public module reference (manual). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170116/VMware-vCenter-vScalation-Privilege-Escalation.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Nov 4, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.

  • Packet Storm SecurityNov 5, 2026
  • Metasploit ModulesNov 4, 2026
  • CVE.orgNov 2, 2026
  • Monitored products — criticalNov 1, 2026