Incorrect authorization in VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation
Priority LOW 34CWE-863Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- 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-863.
Summary
VMware ESXi contains an unauthorized access vulnerability due to VMX having access to settingsd authorization tickets. A malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process only, may be able to access settingsd service running as a high privileged user.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00296 22nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
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 ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation | VMware ESXi(7.0 U3 before ESXi70U3c-19193900, 7.0 U2 before ESXi70U2e-19290878 and 7.0 U1 before ESXi70U1e-19324898) and VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x before 4.4 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation Vendor— Affected VMware ESXi(7.0 U3 before ESXi70U3c-19193900, 7.0 U2 before ESXi70U2e-19290878 and 7.0 U1 before ESXi70U1e-19324898) and VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x before 4.4 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:vmware:cloud_foundation:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 to before 4.4 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:7.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update_1 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:7.0:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update_2 | Vulnerable | VMware |
| cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:7.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 update_3 | Vulnerable | VMware |
- cpe:2.3:a:vmware:cloud_foundation:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 to before 4.4 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:7.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update_1 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:7.0:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update_2 Vulnerable ·VMware
- cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esxi:7.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 update_3 Vulnerable ·VMware
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-22042
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-j79m-7c8r-83mc
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-2021-22042 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-22042 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-j79m-7c8r-83mc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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