# CVE-2021-21973: VMware vCenter Server and Cloud Foundation Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-21973-vmware-vcenter-server-and-cloud-foundation-server-side-request  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-03-07. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-21973 · Severity: critical · CVSS 5.3 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-07

The vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability due to improper validation of URLs in a vCenter Server plugin. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 can exploit this by sending a POST request, potentially leading to information disclosure.

Technologies: [Broadcom vCenter Server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/vcenter-server), [VMware Cloud Foundation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/cloud-foundation). Vendors: [Broadcom](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/broadcom), [VMware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/vmware).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-21973 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-21973 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 7 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-21973?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 7 March 2022.

**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-2021-21973?** 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-2021-21973 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-21973?** Check whether you run Broadcom vCenter Server or VMware Cloud Foundation. 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

- 2021-02-23: disclosed: Initial vendor advisory VMSA-2021-0002 published
- 2022-03-07: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-03-07: exploited: Confirmed exploited in the wild per CISA KEV entry

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- [VMware ESX insufficient logging vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41709-vmware-esx-insufficient-logging-vulnerability)
- [VMware vCenter directory traversal in Syslog server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59310-vmware-vcenter-directory-traversal-in-syslog-server)
- [VMware vCenter authentication bypass in VMware Directory Service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59309-vmware-vcenter-authentication-bypass-in-vmware-directory-service)
- [VMware ESX out-of-bounds write in VMXNET3 adapter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-47876-vmware-esx-out-of-bounds-write-in-vmxnet3-adapter)
- [VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion out-of-bounds read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41703-vmware-esxi-workstation-and-fusion-out-of-bounds-read)