# CVE-2021-38648: Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-38648-microsoft-open-management-infrastructure-omi-privilege-escalation  
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-2021-38648 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows a local attacker to gain elevated permissions. The flaw is present in various Azure VM Management Extensions and monitoring agents that utilize the OMI framework.

Technologies: [Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (Omi)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/open-management-infrastructure-omi). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-38648 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-38648 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-38648?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI); Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration; Microsoft Azure Automation Update Management; Microsoft Azure Diagnostics (LAD); and 6 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-38648?** 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-2021-38648 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-38648?** Check whether you run Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (Omi). 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

- Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI)
- Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration
- Microsoft Azure Automation Update Management
- Microsoft Azure Diagnostics (LAD)
- Microsoft Azure Security Center
- Microsoft Azure Sentinel
- Microsoft Azure Stack Hub
- Microsoft Container Monitoring Solution
- Microsoft Log Analytics Agent
- Microsoft System Center Operations Manager

## Timeline

- 2021-09-15: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Date added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild in advisory metadata

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-38649-microsoft-open-management-infrastructure-omi-privilege-escalation)
- [Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-38647-microsoft-open-management-infrastructure-omi-remote-code)
- [Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-38645-microsoft-open-management-infrastructure-omi-privilege-escalation)