CVE-2021-22018Network attack vector

Unauthenticated file deletion via Lifecycle Manager plug-in

Published Sep 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file deletion in VMware vCenter Server 7.0 and Cloud Foundation 4.x allows remote attackers to delete non-critical files via port 9087. VMware has not disclosed the vulnerable request handler or the operation that permits attacker-controlled file selection in the vSphere Lifecycle Manager plug-in. Reaching port 9087 requires network access to vCenter Server; the published impact is limited to deletion of non-critical files.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file deletion in VMware vCenter Server 7.0 and Cloud Foundation 4.x allows remote attackers to delete non-critical files via port 9087. VMware has not disclosed the vulnerable request handler or the operation that permits attacker-controlled file selection in the vSphere Lifecycle Manager plug-in. Reaching port 9087 requires network access to vCenter Server; the published impact is limited to deletion of non-critical files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22018
Published
Sep 23, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
Unavailable
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?

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

6.5VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
6.4NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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