CVE-2021-21975

HIGH KEV RANSOMWARE NUCLEI

VMware vRealize Operations Manager < 8.4 - Server-Side Request Forgery via API

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2021-21975 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added January 18, 2022, with confirmed use in ransomware campaigns. EIP tracks 10 public exploits from researchers including rabidwh0re, GuayoyoCyber, Henry4E36, including a Metasploit module exploits/linux/http/vmware_vrops_mgr_ssrf_rce. A Nuclei detection template is also available.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional Go-based exploit for CVE-2021-21975 and CVE-2021-21983, targeting VMware vRealize. It chains SSRF for credential theft, file overwrite for authentication bypass, and a privilege escalation to achieve root SSH access.

Description

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.

Exploits (10)

nomisec WORKING POC 39 stars
by rabidwh0re · remote
https://github.com/rabidwh0re/REALITY_SMASHER

This repository contains a functional Go-based exploit for CVE-2021-21975 and CVE-2021-21983, targeting VMware vRealize. It chains SSRF for credential theft, file overwrite for authentication bypass, and a privilege escalation to achieve root SSH access.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce | Lpe | Auth Bypass
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize (affected versions per VMSA-2021-0004)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to vRealize management interface · Outbound HTTPS connectivity for SSRF callback
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec SCANNER 27 stars
by GuayoyoCyber · infoleak
https://github.com/GuayoyoCyber/CVE-2021-21975

This repository contains an Nmap script designed to scan for CVE-2021-21975, an SSRF vulnerability in VMware vRealize Operations Manager. The script checks for the presence of the vulnerability but does not include exploit code.

Classification
Scanner 90%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 14 stars
by Henry4E36 · infoleak
https://github.com/Henry4E36/VMWare-vRealize-SSRF

This repository contains a functional Python script that exploits CVE-2021-21975, an SSRF vulnerability in VMware vRealize Operations Manager. The script sends a crafted POST request to the '/casa/nodes/thumbprints' endpoint with a user-controlled DNS log payload to trigger the SSRF.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target VMware vRealize Operations Manager instance · A DNS log service to verify the SSRF request
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP 13 stars
by Al1ex · infoleak
https://github.com/Al1ex/CVE-2021-21975

This repository provides a detailed technical analysis of CVE-2021-21975, an SSRF vulnerability in VMware vRealize Operations Manager. It includes step-by-step exploitation details, HTTP request examples, and references to official advisories.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager 8.3.0, 8.2.0, 8.1.1, 8.1.0, 7.5.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the vRealize Operations Manager API
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 4 stars
by murataydemir · infoleak
https://github.com/murataydemir/CVE-2021-21975

The repository provides a functional proof-of-concept for CVE-2021-21975, demonstrating an SSRF vulnerability in VMware vRealize Operations Manager API. It includes detailed HTTP request examples and responses, showcasing how an attacker can exploit the vulnerability to read internal resources and potentially steal administrative credentials.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager API 8.4 and earlier
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the vulnerable VMware vRealize Operations Manager API
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec SUSPICIOUS 3 stars
by Vulnmachines · infoleak
https://github.com/Vulnmachines/VMWare-CVE-2021-21975

The repository lacks exploit code and only provides a YouTube link and social media references, which is typical of suspicious repos aiming to lure users to external content.

Classification
Suspicious 90%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Theoretical
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager (unspecified version)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the target VMware instance
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 2 stars
by dorkerdevil · infoleak
https://github.com/dorkerdevil/CVE-2021-21975

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2021-21975, an SSRF vulnerability in VMware vRealize Operations Manager. The exploit sends crafted requests to vulnerable hosts, triggering SSRF to leak credentials via a collaborator server (e.g., webhook.site or Burp Collaborator).

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager
No auth needed
Prerequisites: List of target IPs · Collaborator server (e.g., webhook.site or Burp Collaborator)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
gitlab WORKING POC
by securitystuffbackup · remote
https://gitlab.com/securitystuffbackup/VMWare-vRealize-SSRF

The repository contains a functional Python script that exploits CVE-2021-21975, an SSRF vulnerability in VMware vRealize Operations Manager. The script sends a crafted POST request to the '/casa/nodes/thumbprints' endpoint with a user-controlled DNS log payload to trigger the SSRF.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager
No auth needed
Prerequisites: target URL · DNS log domain for callback verification
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 23, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by DarkFunct · poc
https://github.com/DarkFunct/exp_hub

The repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2021-21975, a VMware vRealize Operations Manager SSRF vulnerability. The PoC sends a crafted request to the vulnerable endpoint to trigger an SSRF, verifying exploitation via DNS callback.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Ssrf
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target · DNS callback service for verification
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC EXCELLENT
by Egor Dimitrenko, wvu · rubypoclinux
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/vmware_vrops_mgr_ssrf_rce.rb

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2021-21975 (SSRF) and CVE-2021-21983 (file write) in VMware vRealize Operations Manager to leak admin credentials and achieve remote code execution via a JSP payload.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: VMware vRealize Operations Manager < 8.3.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target · Target running vulnerable VMware vRealize Operations Manager
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

Nuclei Templates (1)

vRealize Operations Manager API - Server-Side Request Forgery
HIGHby luci

Scores

CVSS v3 7.5
EPSS 0.9442
EPSS Percentile 100.0%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable yes
Technical Impact partial

Details

CISA KEV 2022-01-18
VulnCheck KEV 2021-06-01
InTheWild.io 2021-07-01
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2021-9146
Ransomware Use Confirmed
CWE
CWE-918
Status published
Products (27)
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.0
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.0.1
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.0.1.1
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.5
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.5.1
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.7
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.7.1
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.7.2
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.8
vmware/cloud_foundation 3.8.1
... and 17 more
Published Mar 31, 2021
KEV Added Jan 18, 2022
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026