CVE-2021-21975: VMware Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API

Patch now

HIGH 7.5EXPLOITEDREMOTEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2021-21975 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting cloud foundation, vrealize operations manager, vrealize suite lifecycle manager, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API (CVE-2021-21975) prior to 8.4 may allow a malicious actor with network access to the vRealize Operations Manager API can perform a Server Side Request Forgery attack to steal administrative credentials.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Used in ransomware campaigns
Public exploit reference
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	78.0% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-02-01, used in ransomware
Weakness	CWE-918
Published	2021-03-31
Last modified	2026-10-02

Publisher (CNA): VMware · Vendor: vmware

Last updated 2026-10-02 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-03-31 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-01-18Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-02-01Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-10-02 14:54 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vmware cloud foundation DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.0 · 3.0.1 · 3.0.1.1 · 3.5 · 3.5.1 · 3.7 · 3.7.1 · 3.7.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cloud-foundation || rpm -q cloud-foundation || cloud-foundation --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cloud-foundation sudo apt install cloud-foundation=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0> sudo apt-mark hold cloud-foundation

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list cloud-foundation sudo dnf downgrade cloud-foundation-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0> sudo dnf versionlock add cloud-foundation

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

vmware vrealize operations manager DOWNGRADE

Affected: 7.0.0 · 7.5.0 · 8.0.0 · 8.0.1 · 8.1.0 · 8.1.1 · 8.2.0 · 8.3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy vrealize-operations-manager || rpm -q vrealize-operations-manager || vrealize-operations-manager --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 7.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison vrealize-operations-manager sudo apt install vrealize-operations-manager=<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold vrealize-operations-manager

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list vrealize-operations-manager sudo dnf downgrade vrealize-operations-manager-<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add vrealize-operations-manager

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

vmware vrealize suite lifecycle manager DOWNGRADE

Affected: 8.0 · 8.0.1 · 8.1 · 8.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager || rpm -q vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager || vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager sudo apt install vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0> sudo apt-mark hold vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager sudo dnf downgrade vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0> sudo dnf versionlock add vrealize-suite-lifecycle-manager

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · bitcoin-core-selinux · FIXED · 0.3-2.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-51fc806272 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-51fc806272

Fedora ELN · guestfs-tools · FIXED · 1.57.5-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-9577c5ec16 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-9577c5ec16

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: rabidwh0re/REALITY_SMASHER (37 stars)
GitHub PoC: GuayoyoCyber/CVE-2021-21975 (27 stars)
GitHub PoC: Al1ex/CVE-2021-21975 (13 stars)
Metasploit: VMware vRealize Operations (vROps) Manager SSRF RCE
Nuclei scan template: vRealize Operations Manager API - Server-Side Request Forgery

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-21975?

cloud foundation: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; vrealize operations manager: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; vrealize suite lifecycle manager: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-21975 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-21975 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2021-21975 affect?

CVE-2021-21975 affects cloud foundation, vrealize operations manager, vrealize suite lifecycle manager. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API (CVE-2021-21975) prior to 8.4 may allow a malicious actor with network access to the vRealize Operations Manager API can perform a Server Side Request Forgery attack to steal ad

How urgent is CVE-2021-21975?

Priority 94/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

VMware vulnerabilities

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References

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