CVE-2021-22015

VMware vCenter Server Appliance Incorrect Permission Assignment Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Severity Score

7.8

*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

*KEV

Decision

*SSVC

Descriptions

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.

vCenter Server contiene múltiples vulnerabilidades de escalada de privilegios locales debido a permisos inapropiados de archivos y directorios. Un usuario local autenticado con privilegios no administrativos puede explotar estos problemas para elevar sus privilegios a root en vCenter Server Appliance

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of VMware vCenter Server Appliance. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the permissions of root-owned service files. The product sets incorrect permissions on sensitive files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of root.

*Credits: Sergey Gerasimov and George webpentest Noseevich of SolidLab

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Authentication

None

Confidentiality

Complete

Integrity

Complete

Availability

Complete

* Common Vulnerability Scoring System

SSVC

Decision:-

Exploitation

Automatable

Tech. Impact

* Organization's Worst-case Scenario

Timeline

2021-01-04 CVE Reserved
2021-09-22 CVE Published
2023-05-09 First Exploit
2024-02-23 EPSS Updated
2024-08-03 CVE Updated
---------- Exploited in Wild
---------- KEV Due Date

CWE

CWE-552: Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties

CAPEC

References (3)

URL	Tag	Source

URL	Date	SRC
https://github.com/PenteraIO/vScalation-CVE-2021-22015	2023-05-09
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170116/VMware-vCenter-vScalation-Privilege-Escalation.html	2024-08-03

URL	Date	SRC
https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2021-0020.html	2023-02-03

URL	Date	SRC

Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions

Vendor		Product				Version		Other		Status
Vendor	Product	Version	Other	Status	<-- -->	Vendor	Product	Version	Other	Status
Vmware Search vendor "Vmware"		Cloud Foundation Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Cloud Foundation"				>= 3.0 < 5.0 Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Cloud Foundation" and version " >= 3.0 < 5.0"		-		Affected
Vmware Search vendor "Vmware"		Vcenter Server Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Vcenter Server"				6.5 Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Vcenter Server" and version "6.5"		-		Affected
Vmware Search vendor "Vmware"		Vcenter Server Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Vcenter Server"				6.7 Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Vcenter Server" and version "6.7"		-		Affected
Vmware Search vendor "Vmware"		Vcenter Server Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Vcenter Server"				7.0 Search vendor "Vmware" for product "Vcenter Server" and version "7.0"		-		Affected