The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories.

published 2021-09-23 5 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2021-9184

cvss: 7.8; version 3.1, NVD
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 1.9%; EPSS 1.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 80%
public exploits: 1; Metasploit

The vCenter Server contains multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities due to improper permissions of files and directories. An authenticated local user with non-administrative privilege may exploit these issues to elevate their privileges to root on vCenter Server Appliance.

Patch / fix

fixed in 1 links 1

vmware cloud_foundation 5.0

vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.html advisory

Timeline

2021-09-21 First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/linux/local/vcenter_java_wrapper_vmon_priv_esc)
2021-09-23 Published

Exploit prediction

1.94% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 80% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

Metasploit exploit/linux/local/vcenter_java_wrapper_vmon_priv_esc VMware vCenter vScalation Priv Esc metasploit exploit, manual rank, 2021-09-21
packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170116/VMware-vCenter-vScalation-Privilege-Escalation.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
NVD	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	7.2	AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected products

n/a VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation

Classification

Weakness

CWE-552 Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties

Technology feeds

VMware rss critical rss

References

vmware.com /security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.html
patch, vendor-advisory
packetstormsecurity.com /files/170116/VMware-vCenter-vScalation-Privilege-Escalation.html
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry

Sources

CVE List CVE-2021-22015
NVD CVE-2021-22015

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary