CVE-2021-21980Network attack vector

Unauthenticated arbitrary file read via undisclosed client flaw

Published Nov 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file read in VMware vSphere Web Client on vCenter Server 6.5 and 6.7 allows remote attackers to read sensitive files. VMware identifies the affected locus only as the FLEX/Flash client and has not published the request path or file-validation error that enables arbitrary reads. Network access to TCP port 443 is sufficient without authentication; the documented consequence is confidentiality loss, not file modification or service interruption.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability4.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file read in VMware vSphere Web Client on vCenter Server 6.5 and 6.7 allows remote attackers to read sensitive files. VMware identifies the affected locus only as the FLEX/Flash client and has not published the request path or file-validation error that enables arbitrary reads. Network access to TCP port 443 is sufficient without authentication; the documented consequence is confidentiality loss, not file modification or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21980
Published
Nov 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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