CVE-2021-21983Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated file write via certificate path traversal

Published Mar 31, 2021 · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Arbitrary file write in VMware vRealize Operations Manager before 8.4 allows remote authenticated users to write files through its API. The /casa/private/config/slice/ha/certificate endpoint processes a traversal path without confining the destination, allowing uploaded content to escape the intended directory. Administrative API credentials and network reachability are required; a writable web directory enables JSP deployment and code execution as the admin Unix user.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability68.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file write in VMware vRealize Operations Manager before 8.4 allows remote authenticated users to write files through its API. The /casa/private/config/slice/ha/certificate endpoint processes a traversal path without confining the destination, allowing uploaded content to escape the intended directory. Administrative API credentials and network reachability are required; a writable web directory enables JSP deployment and code execution as the admin Unix user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21983
Published
Mar 31, 2021
Updated
Aug 12, 2026
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware vRealize Operations Manager
Classifications
T1505.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 31, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=VMware vRealize Operations prior to 8.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware vRealize Operations Managerversion=VMware vRealize Operations prior to 8.4

Published CVSS scores

8.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:C/A:C
7.2VMwareCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1505.003Server Software Component Web Shell

Public exploit references

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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