CVE-2021-22045

Hypervisor code execution via unchecked SCSI copy

Published Jan 4, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

A heap overflow in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion CD-ROM emulation allows guest OS users to execute hypervisor code. The SCSI component copies user-supplied data into a fixed-length heap buffer without first validating its length. Exploitation requires low-privileged guest code and an attached CD image, and a host escape requires chaining this flaw with another issue.

CVSS severity7.7
High
EPSS probability4.68%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A heap overflow in VMware ESXi, Workstation, and Fusion CD-ROM emulation allows guest OS users to execute hypervisor code. The SCSI component copies user-supplied data into a fixed-length heap buffer without first validating its length. Exploitation requires low-privileged guest code and an attached CD image, and a host escape requires chaining this flaw with another issue.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22045
Published
Jan 4, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 4, 2022CVE 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

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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.9NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8Trend Micro Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.7VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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 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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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