# CVE-2021-21972: VMware vCenter Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-21972-vmware-vcenter-server-remote-code-execution-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-21972 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

The VMware vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a remote code execution vulnerability in a vCenter Server plugin. An unauthenticated attacker with network access to port 443 can exploit this to execute commands with unrestricted privileges on the underlying operating system.

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-21972 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-21972 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-21972?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** VMware vCenter Server 7.x before 7.0 U1c, 6.7 before 6.7 U3l, 6.5 before 6.5 U3n; VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x before 4.2, 3.x before 3.10.1.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-21972?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2021-21972 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-21972?** Check whether anything you run is named in the advisory. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- VMware vCenter Server 7.x before 7.0 U1c, 6.7 before 6.7 U3l, 6.5 before 6.5 U3n
- VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x before 4.2, 3.x before 3.10.1.2

## Timeline

- 2021-11-03: disclosed
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild in CISA KEV catalog.