# CVE-2021-38649: Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-38649-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-2021-38649 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) contains an elevation of privilege vulnerability. An attacker with local access could exploit this flaw to gain elevated permissions on affected systems, including various Azure VM Management Extensions and monitoring tools.

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-2021-38649 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-38649 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-38649?** 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-2021-38649?** 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-2021-38649 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-38649?** 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: other: Advisory publication date provided in report

## Related threats

- [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-2021-38648-microsoft-open-management-infrastructure-omi-privilege-escalation)
- [Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-38645-microsoft-open-management-infrastructure-omi-privilege-escalation)