VMSA-2021-0025:VMware vCenter Server updates address a privilege escalation vulnerability
23625
13 December 2022
08 November 2021
CLOSED
HIGH
7.1
CVE-2021-22048
1. Impacted Products
- VMware vCenter Server (vCenter Server)
- VMware Cloud Foundation (Cloud Foundation)
2. Introduction
A privilege escalation vulnerability in VMware Center Server was privately reported to VMware. Updates and workarounds are available to remediate this vulnerability in the affected VMware products.
3. VMware vCenter Server IWA privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2021-22048)
Description
The vCenter Server contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the IWA (Integrated Windows Authentication) authentication mechanism. VMware has evaluated the severity of this issue to be in the Important severity range with a maximum CVSSv3 base score of 7.1.
Known Attack Vectors
A malicious actor with non-administrative access to vCenter Server may exploit this issue to elevate privileges to a higher privileged group.
Resolution
None.
Workarounds
Workaround for CVE-2021-22048 is to switch to AD over LDAPS authentication OR Identity Provider Federation for AD FS (vSphere 7.0 or later) from Integrated Windows Authentication (IWA) as documented in the KB listed in the 'Workarounds' column of the 'Response Matrix' below.
Additional Documentation
None.
Notes
None.
Acknowledgements
VMware would like to thank Yaron Zinar and Sagi Sheinfeld of Crowdstrike for reporting this issue to us.
Response Matrix
| Product | Version | Running On | CVE Identifier | CVSSv3 | Severity | Fixed Version | Workarounds | Additional Documentation |
| vCenter Server | 8.0 | Any | CVE-2021-22048 | important | None | |||
| vCenter Server | 7.0 | Any | CVE-2021-22048 | important | None | |||
| vCenter Server | 6.7 | Any | CVE-2021-22048 | important | None | |||
| vCenter Server | 6.5 | Any | CVE-2021-22048 | important | None |
Impacted Product Suites that Deploy Response Matrix Components:
4. References
Fixed Version(s) and Release Notes:
VMware vCenter Server 8.0a
Downloads and Documentation:
https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/rn/vsphere-vcenter-server-80a-release-notes.html
https://customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=VC800A&productId=1345&rPId=98581
VMware vCenter Server 7.0 U3i
Downloads and Documentation:
https://customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/get-download?downloadGroup=VC70U3I
https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/rn/vsphere-vcenter-server-70u3i-release-notes.html
KBs:
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/86292
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/89027
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/90336
Mitre CVE Dictionary Links:
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-22048
FIRST CVSSv3 Calculator:
CVE-2021-22048: https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.1#CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5. Change Log
2021-11-10 VMSA-2021-0025
Initial security advisory.
2021-11-15 VMSA-2021-0025.1
Added vCenter Server 6.5 in the Response Matrix.
2022-07-12 VMSA-2021-0025.2
Added fixed version of vCenter Server 7.0 in the Response Matrix.
2022-07-23 VMSA-2021-0025.3
VMware has determined that vCenter 7.0u3f updates previously mentioned in the response matrix do not remediate CVE-2021-22048 and introduce a functional issue. Please review KB89027 for more information.
2022-10-11 VMSA-2021-0025.4
Added vCenter Server 8.0 in the Response Matrix.
2022-12-08 VMSA-2021-0025.5
Added vCenter Server 7.0 U3i and VCF KB90336 in the response matrix that address CVE-2021-22048.
2022-12-15 VMSA-2021-0025.6
Added fixed version of vCenter Server 8.0 in the response matrix.
6. Contact
E-mail list for product security notifications and announcements:
https://lists.vmware.com/mailman/listinfo/security-announce
This Security Advisory is posted to the following lists:
E-mail: [email protected]
PGP key at:
VMware Security Advisories
https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories
VMware Security Response Policy
https://www.vmware.com/support/policies/security_response.html
VMware Lifecycle Support Phases
https://www.vmware.com/support/policies/lifecycle.html
VMware Security & Compliance Blog
https://blogs.vmware.com/security
Copyright 2021 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.