CVE-2021-22012Network attack vector

Unauthenticated sensitive information disclosure via appliance API

Published Sep 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information disclosure in VMware vCenter Server 6.5 before 6.5 U3q allows remote attackers to read sensitive information via network access to port 443. The unauthenticated appliance management API in the VAPI service exposes sensitive information without an authentication check. Any attacker able to reach the vCenter HTTPS service can obtain the disclosed data, with confidentiality impact and no stated integrity or availability effect.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in VMware vCenter Server 6.5 before 6.5 U3q allows remote attackers to read sensitive information via network access to port 443. The unauthenticated appliance management API in the VAPI service exposes sensitive information without an authentication check. Any attacker able to reach the vCenter HTTPS service can obtain the disclosed data, with confidentiality impact and no stated integrity or availability effect.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22012
Published
Sep 23, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware vCenter Server
Classifications
CWE-306, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=VMware vCenter Server 6.5 before 6.5 U3q

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware vCenter Serverversion=VMware vCenter Server 6.5 before 6.5 U3q

Published CVSS scores

5.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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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