Missing authentication in VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-306.
Summary
The vSphere Client (HTML5) contains a vulnerability in a vSphere authentication mechanism for the Virtual SAN Health Check, Site Recovery, vSphere Lifecycle Manager, and VMware Cloud Director Availability plug-ins. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on vCenter Server may perform actions allowed by the impacted plug-ins without authentication.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation | VMware vCenter Server (7.x before 7.0 U2b, 6.7 before 6.7 U3n, 6.5 before 6.5 U3p) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x before 4.2.1, 3.x before 3.10.2.1) | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation Vendor— Affected VMware vCenter Server (7.x before 7.0 U2b, 6.7 before 6.7 U3n, 6.5 before 6.5 U3p) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x before 4.2.1, 3.x before 3.10.2.1) Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 52
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:c:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 c | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:e:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 e | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:f:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 f | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update1b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1c:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update1c | Vulnerable | VMware |
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:c:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 c Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:e:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 e Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:f:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 f Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update1 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update1b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1c:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update1c Vulnerable ·VMware
Show 42 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update1d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1e:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update1e | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1g:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update1g | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update2 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update2b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2c:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update2c | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update2d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2g:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update2g | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update3 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update3d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3f:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update3f | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3k:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update3k | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3n:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.5 update3n | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update1b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update1b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update2 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update2a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update2a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update2c:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update2c | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3f:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3f | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3g:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3g | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3j:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3j | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3l:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3l | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3m:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.7 update3m | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:b:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 b | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:c:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 c | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update1a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1c:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update1c | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1d:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update1d | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update2 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2a:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update2a | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:cloud_foundation:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0 to before 3.10.2.1; 4.0 to before 4.2.1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update1d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1e:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update1e Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update1g:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update1g Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update2 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update2b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2c:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update2c Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update2d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update2g:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update2g Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update3 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update3d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3f:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update3f Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3k:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update3k Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.5:update3n:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.5 update3n Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update1 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update1b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update1b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update2 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update2a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update2a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update2c:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update2c Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3f:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3f Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3g:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3g Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3j:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3j Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3l:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3l Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:6.7:update3m:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.7 update3m Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:b:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 b Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:c:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 c Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update1 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update1a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1c:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update1c Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update1d:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update1d Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update2 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vcenter_server:7.0:update2a:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update2a Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:cloud_foundation:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 to before 3.10.2.1; 4.0 to before 4.2.1 Vulnerable ·VMware
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-21986
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6qhw-394j-xwvg
References
More VMware Cloud Foundation vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-26040 Privilege escalation in VMware vCenter Server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-26039 Heap-overflow in VMware vCenter Server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-24610 Out-of-bounds write in VMware vCenter Server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-07131 Code injection in VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-05049 Path traversal in VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-05029 Improper input validation in VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-21986 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-21986 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6qhw-394j-xwvg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences