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Known exploited · VMware

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

What it is

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

Added January 18, 2022Due February 1, 2022CISA KEV catalog 2026.10.01

Vendor
VMware
Product
vRealize Operations Manager API
Added to KEV
January 18, 2022
CISA due date
February 1, 2022
Ransomware use
Known

What CISA requires

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Forensic triage

No

What to do now

  1. Find every instance of vRealize Operations Manager API you run, including the forgotten ones, and check its version against the vendor advisory.
  2. Apply the vendor's fix or mitigation, before February 1, 2022 if you are bound by CISA's deadline, sooner if it faces the internet.
  3. Assume it was tried against you already: look for signs of exploitation from the date it was added, not from the day you patched.
  4. Until every instance is patched, block the attack at the edge: a WAF in blocking mode stops SSRF payloads aimed at cloud metadata endpoints.

References

CVE-2021-21975 in the National Vulnerability Database

The Dome

Block it at the edge while you patch

The Dome's WAF runs the OWASP Core Rule Set in blocking mode and stops SSRF payloads aimed at cloud metadata endpoints before they reach your application.

See the Dome

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Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog (public domain), catalog version 2026.10.01.