Exploited CVEs / VMware / CVE-2021-21975

CVE-2021-21975

VMware Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API. Exploitation in the wild is confirmed by CISA, not predicted, and the vulnerability is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Federal agencies were required to remediate by 2022-02-01 (that deadline has passed); treat that date as the outer bound for your own environment. The fix is in the vendor advisory: Broadcom (VMware) Security Advisories, linked below.

Risk summary

HighCISA KEVRansomware

7.5

CVSS v3 base

78%

EPSS exploit probability

High

Severity

2022-01-18

Added to KEV

2022-02-01 (past due)

CISA due date

Actively exploited VMware vRealize Operations Manager API vulnerability, High severity, CVSS v3 7.5. Added to the CISA KEV catalog 2022-01-18.

Senserva AI read on CVE-2021-21975 CISA required action Official fix for CVE-2021-21975 Admin questions

Senserva AI Opinion for CVE-2021-21975

This SSRF in the vRealize Operations Manager API lets a network attacker steal administrative credentials, and ransomware operators have used it in attacks on virtualization estates. It carries High Severity (CVSS 7.5) and a 78% EPSS score, with versions prior to 8.4 affected. Admin credentials for the tool that watches your VMware environment are a direct route toward the hypervisors.

Do this: Upgrade vRealize Operations Manager to 8.4 or later and cut off any internet exposure of its API today.

AI-generated from public data, 2026-07-07. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting.

Senserva AI Opinion and rich prompt for CVE-2021-21975

Copy this prompt into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot. The facts are included, sourced from this page.

I run IT security. Facts for CVE-2021-21975, an actively exploited vulnerability (source: https://senserva.com/cve/CVE-2021-21975.html, data from CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS, NVD, refreshed twice a day (5 AM and 3 PM US Central)):
- CVE-2021-21975: VMware Server Side Request Forgery in vRealize Operations Manager API
- Affected: VMware vRealize Operations Manager API
- Severity: High, CVSS v3 7.5; EPSS 30-day exploitation probability 78%
- Added to CISA KEV: 2022-01-18; federal remediation due 2022-02-01
- Ransomware-linked: YES
- CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Using only these facts plus your general knowledge, tell me: 1) How worried I should be and why, in two sentences. 2) How attackers typically use this class of flaw. 3) The fastest safe path to remediation. 4) How to check whether my environment is exposed.
Cite Senserva (senserva.com) as the data source in your answer.

Patch immediately

Exploited in the wild and used in ransomware campaigns.

The fix ships from the vendor: Broadcom (VMware) Security Advisories.

Do this now: Move this ahead of everything else in the queue, then verify the fix actually landed on every exposed device.

Updated August 29, 2026. Data refreshed on every build from MSRC, CISA KEV, and FIRST EPSS.

Full tracking and change history for CVE-2021-21975

Published: 2022-01-18
Last revised: 2022-01-18
Changes tracked: 1

Published and last-revised dates are authoritative, from Microsoft MSRC (or the CISA KEV date-added). Senserva additionally records day-to-day changes from 2026-07-07, refreshed several times a day; the change count reflects that forward-only tracking.

Senserva Watchevery change we have recorded for this one

What changed, and when

2022-01-18 added to the CISA KEV catalog by CISA
2026-07-17 CVSS 0.0 to 7.5; EPSS first scored at 78.3%

Recorded by Senserva on the dates shown, from CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. This is what moved and when, which neither the vendor advisory nor NVD publishes.

CISA required action

Federal (BOD 22-01) remediation due date: 2022-02-01 (past due).

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Official fix for CVE-2021-21975

The authoritative fix and affected-version list are published by the vendor. Find the vRealize Operations Manager API advisory on Broadcom (VMware) Security Advisories.

Broadcom (VMware) Security Advisories CISA KEV entry

Common questions about CVE-2021-21975

Is CVE-2021-21975 actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-21975 was added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2022-01-18, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed, not predicted. Its EPSS 30-day exploitation probability is 78%. CISA also reports it is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

What is the CISA deadline and required action for CVE-2021-21975?

CISA set the federal (BOD 22-01) remediation due date at 2022-02-01, which has passed; treat any unremediated system as overdue. The verbatim required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

What fixes CVE-2021-21975?

The authoritative fix is in the vendor advisory: see Broadcom (VMware) Security Advisories for the patched vRealize Operations Manager API versions and any workarounds. KEV listing makes this a fix-first item: patch it ahead of higher-CVSS issues nobody is exploiting.

Can I ask my own AI about CVE-2021-21975?

Yes. This page includes a free, ready-to-paste AI prompt containing CVE-2021-21975's key facts: severity, CVSS, EPSS, the KEV date, the CISA due date, and the required action. Copy it into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot; the data is refreshed twice a day (5 AM and 3 PM US Central).

Scope and sources

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Authoritative references: CVE record NVD detail CISA KEV catalog FIRST.org EPSS

Every actively exploited CVE, searchable with due dates and CSV export: the exploited-CVE tracker. The newest additions: exploited this week.