CVE-2021-22035Network attack vector

Spreadsheet formula execution via unsanitized CSV exports

Published Oct 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

CSV injection in VMware Aria Operations for Logs before 8.6 allows remote authenticated users to execute spreadsheet formulas through exports. The interactive analytics export function places attacker-controlled log data into CSV cells without neutralizing formula-leading characters before the sheet is opened. Non-administrative access is sufficient to seed the data, but a user must export and open the resulting CSV in a formula-processing application, where the formula runs in that user's environment.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

CSV injection in VMware Aria Operations for Logs before 8.6 allows remote authenticated users to execute spreadsheet formulas through exports. The interactive analytics export function places attacker-controlled log data into CSV cells without neutralizing formula-leading characters before the sheet is opened. Non-administrative access is sufficient to seed the data, but a user must export and open the resulting CSV in a formula-processing application, where the formula runs in that user's environment.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22035
Published
Oct 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware Aria Operations for Logs
Classifications
CWE-74, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 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 Log Insight (8.x prior to 8.6)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware Aria Operations for Logsversion=VMware vRealize Log Insight (8.x prior to 8.6)

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
6.5VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1204.002Malicious File

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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