CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2021-22012 — The vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability due to an unauthenticated appliance management API

High CVSS 7.5

The vCenter Server contains an information disclosure vulnerability due to an unauthenticated appliance management API. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 on vCenter Server may exploit this issue to gain access to sensitive information.

Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Published
2021-09-23
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-306

Affected products

  • vmware / cloud_foundation
  • vmware / vcenter_server / 6.7
  • vmware / vcenter_server / 7.0

Matched remediation archetype

Authentication bypass and missing authentication

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Check exposure

  • Map every affected endpoint and protocol path, including alternate ports, legacy routes, recovery flows, service accounts, and machine-to-machine access.
  • Confirm which deployments enable the affected authentication mode and whether the interface is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review session, token, credential, and proxy trust configuration without attempting account takeover.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the supported fix and centralize fail-closed authentication before protected request handling.
  • Remove default or embedded credentials, rotate affected secrets and sessions, and bind authentication decisions to the intended audience and channel.
  • Add negative tests for alternate routes, malformed or absent credentials, recovery flows, and proxy-derived identity.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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