CVE-2021-22025Network attack vector

Cluster node addition via unauthenticated API access

Published Aug 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Broken access control in VMware vRealize Operations Manager before 8.5 allows remote attackers to add nodes to an existing cluster. The Manager API exposes the cluster-node addition operation without authenticating the caller or enforcing its required access check. Network access to the API is sufficient, and successful exploitation changes the membership of an existing cluster.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability0.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Broken access control in VMware vRealize Operations Manager before 8.5 allows remote attackers to add nodes to an existing cluster. The Manager API exposes the cluster-node addition operation without authenticating the caller or enforcing its required access check. Network access to the API is sufficient, and successful exploitation changes the membership of an existing cluster.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22025
Published
Aug 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware vRealize Operations Manager
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 30, 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 vRealize Operations (8.x prior to 8.5)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware vRealize Operations Managerversion=VMware vRealize Operations (8.x prior to 8.5)

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
8.6VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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