CVE-2021-22050 is identified as a high-severity vulnerability affecting VMware ESXi, specifically the rhttpproxy component. This vulnerability allows for a slow HTTP POST denial-of-service condition, which could be exploited by a malicious actor with network access to the ESXi host. Such exploitation may lead to a denial-of-service condition by overwhelming the rhttpproxy service with numerous requests.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, which classifies it as high severity. This score reflects the potential impact on system availability, as the exploit could cause significant service disruption. Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential impact, it is crucial for organizations utilizing VMware ESXi to address this issue promptly.
Organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch cycles, as the risk to organizations includes service outages that could affect business operations. The urgency for defenders is high, and immediate action is recommended to mitigate potential risks associated with this vulnerability.
Currently, there are no known exploits available, but the risk of exploitation remains high due to the nature of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows for denial-of-service attacks through the rhttpproxy component of VMware ESXi. The official description indicates that a malicious actor can exploit this vulnerability to create a denial-of-service condition by overwhelming the service with multiple requests. It is classified under CWE-770, which pertains to inadequate resource management.
The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates that this vulnerability poses a significant risk to availability but does not affect confidentiality or integrity. The affected products include VMware ESXi versions, particularly 6.5 and 6.7, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation versions between 3.0 and 4.4.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of the vulnerability lies in the rhttpproxy service's inability to handle a high volume of incoming HTTP POST requests effectively. The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker does not need physical access to the device but only network access to exploit the vulnerability.
The attack complexity is considered low, as no special privileges or user interaction are required to exploit this vulnerability. The impact on availability is high, as the service can be rendered inoperable if the attack is successful.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2021-22050 is significant due to its potential to disrupt critical services. Organizations utilizing VMware ESXi must recognize that the blast radius could extend to all services relying on the rhttpproxy, leading to widespread service outages.
Organizations should assess their exposure to this vulnerability and take immediate action to patch or mitigate the risk. As this vulnerability is classified as high severity, it is essential to prioritize it in remediation efforts to maintain operational integrity.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of VMware products are affected by CVE-2021-22050: VMware ESXi 6.5 and 6.7, and VMware Cloud Foundation versions from 3.0 up to but not including 3.11, and from 4.0 up to but not including 4.4. Organizations should ensure that they are running the latest versions to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations are advised to apply the patches provided by VMware immediately. The vendor advisory can be found on the VMware Security Advisory page. If a patch is unavailable, organizations should consider implementing network controls to restrict access to the rhttpproxy service, as well as monitoring service logs for unusual activity.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor network traffic for anomalies indicative of denial-of-service attacks targeting the rhttpproxy component. Log indicators of successful requests that exceed normal thresholds can serve as crucial detection points.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-22050 lies in its illustration of how even widely used services like rhttpproxy can be targeted for denial-of-service attacks. This vulnerability reflects a pattern where attackers exploit simple but effective methods to disrupt services.
Security teams should learn from this incident by ensuring that services are configured securely and that they are equipped to handle unexpected loads. Implementing robust monitoring and response strategies is critical to mitigating similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For further reading on secure configurations and best practices, organizations can refer to our guide on security checklist for web developers. Additionally, understanding the broader context of vulnerability management can be beneficial, as discussed in our article on vulnerability management programs. Finally, to enhance incident response capabilities, organizations are encouraged to explore our resources on penetration testing methodologies.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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