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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2021-22043

VMware ESXi contains a TOCTOU (Time-of-check Time-of-use) vulnerability that exists in the way temporary files are handled.

Published Feb 16, 2022 · catalog updated Jun 17, 2026 · VMware ESXi contains a

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-2021-22043. EPSS is 1.05%. Act only if a listed version of VMware ESXi contains a is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (VMware ESXi contains a).
  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.

Same product and reporting

Severity
High7.5
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
1.05%
Remediation
Version ranges on file
Affected products
cpe vmware/esxi · cpe vmware/fusion

VMware ESXi contains a TOCTOU (Time-of-check Time-of-use) vulnerability that exists in the way temporary files are handled. A malicious actor with access to settingsd, may exploit this issue to escalate their privileges by writing arbitrary files.

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/esxi7.0
  • cpe vmware/fusion< 4.4

How to fix CVE-2021-22043

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-2021-22043. EPSS is 1.05%. Act only if a listed version of VMware ESXi contains a is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with 7.0, < 4.4. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-367: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition. EPSS 1.05%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. 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. Feb 16, 2022 · Monitored products — critical

    Detected

    VMware ESXi contains a TOCTOU (Time-of-check Time-of-use) vulnerability that exists in the way temporary files are handled. A malicious actor with access to settingsd, may exploit this issue to escalate their privileges by writing arbitrary files.

  2. Jun 17, 2026 · Monitored products — critical

    Updated

    VMware ESXi contains a TOCTOU (Time-of-check Time-of-use) vulnerability that exists in the way temporary files are handled. A malicious actor with access to settingsd, may exploit this issue to escalate their privileges by writing arbitrary files.

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2021-22043

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • Monitored products — criticalVendor advisoryCVE-2021-22043

    VMware ESXi contains a TOCTOU (Time-of-check Time-of-use) vulnerability that exists in the way temporary files are handled. A malicious actor with access to settingsd, may exploit this issue to escalate their privileges by writing arbitrary files.

    nvd.nist.gov
  • AlienVault OTXThreat intelligenceCVE-2021-22043
    otx.alienvault.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.

  • Monitored products — criticalNov 5, 2026
  • AlienVault OTXNov 2, 2026
  • CVE.orgNov 2, 2026