CVE-2021-22005Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via crafted Analytics manifest

Published Sep 23, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Arbitrary file upload in VMware vCenter Server 6.7 and 7.0 allows remote attackers to execute code through its Analytics service. The CEIP SDK route accepts unauthenticated agent and collection requests, while a crafted manifest redirects an Analytics logger to write a JSP web shell outside its log path. Network access to HTTPS port 443 is sufficient, and successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied commands on the vCenter Server appliance.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability100.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file upload in VMware vCenter Server 6.7 and 7.0 allows remote attackers to execute code through its Analytics service. The CEIP SDK route accepts unauthenticated agent and collection requests, while a crafted manifest redirects an Analytics logger to write a JSP web shell outside its log path. Network access to HTTPS port 443 is sufficient, and successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied commands on the vCenter Server appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22005
Published
Sep 23, 2021
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-23, CWE-22, T1190, T1505.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

9.8VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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 IPsShadowserver observations through Sep 16, 2026. Gaps indicate unavailable data.
Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
View daily counts
Reporting dayUnique IPs
Sep 10, 2026Unavailable
Sep 11, 2026Unavailable
Sep 12, 2026Unavailable
Sep 13, 20262
Sep 14, 20262
Sep 15, 20261
Sep 16, 20262
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPs2
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-23Relative Path Traversal
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1505.003Web Shell

Public exploit references

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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