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APIs & servers (backend)48k · #4514

vmware-vcenter-attack

Describes how to attack VMware vSphere and vCenter systems. Useful for understanding and improving the security of these environments.

What it does

This tool helps identify and verify vulnerabilities in VMware vCenter and vSphere systems exposed on the internet. It checks for outdated versions and known security flaws.

When to use it

  • ✓When an internet-facing VMware vCenter/vSphere system is found.
  • ✓To check if a VMware system is vulnerable to known attacks.
  • ✓To understand the security risks of an exposed VMware system.

Example of what to ask your AI

“Check if the VMware vCenter system at [IP address or URL] is vulnerable to CVE-2021-21972.”

Want more? Open the sections below.

How to use

The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.

Skill link

https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/vmware-vcenter-attack/SKILL.md

Ready-to-paste message

Use this skill to help me: https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/vmware-vcenter-attack/SKILL.md Read the SKILL.md file at that link and follow its instructions for my task.
How it works

The tool first tries to identify the VMware system's version. Then, it compares this version against a list of known security flaws (CVEs) that can be exploited remotely.

Installation

Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.

In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:

npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill vmware-vcenter-attack

Or download just the file:

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/vmware-vcenter-attack/SKILL.md -o SKILL.md
Technical content (original SKILL.md)

Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.

⚠️ AUTHORIZED USE ONLY This skill is for educational purposes or authorized security assessments only. You must have explicit, written permission from the system owner before using this tool. Misuse of this tool is illegal and strictly prohibited.

Mandatory confirmation gate Before running any command that probes, exploits, changes, persists on, extracts data from, or attempts credential access against a target:

  1. Ask the user to state the exact target URL, IP, account, or resource.
  2. Ask the user to confirm written authorization and the permitted scope.
  3. Show the exact command(s) and explain their expected effect.
  4. Wait for explicit confirmation in the current conversation.

Without that confirmation, remain read-only and provide defensive guidance only. Prefer a sandbox, disposable VM, or controlled lab.

When to use

Trigger when external recon shows ANY of:

  • Banner: "VMware vCenter Server", "VMware vSphere Client"
  • URL paths: /ui, /ui/login, /websso/SAML2/Metadata, /sdk, /mob (Managed Object Browser)
  • TLS cert SAN includes vcenter / vsphere / vcsa / psc / vmware
  • Workspace ONE Access / Identity Manager: /SAAS, /SAAS/auth, /SAAS/login, /SAAS/horizon
  • VMware Aria / vRealize: /vco, /vco-controlcenter, /orchestrator, /lcm/api/v1
  • Horizon View: /portal, /admin

Do NOT use for:

  • Internal-network vCenter (out of scope — external boundary discipline)
  • Pure ESXi hypervisor exposed without management plane (rare on internet; flag as separate finding)

Step 1 — Version fingerprinting

TARGET="vcenter.target.com"

# Build info endpoint (often public; revealing exact patch level)
curl -sk "https://$TARGET/sdk/vimServiceVersions.xml"

# UI build (visible in page source)
curl -sk "https://$TARGET/ui/login" | grep -oE 'build[^"]{0,40}'
curl -sk "https://$TARGET/ui/" | grep -oE 'vsphere[^"]{0,40}'

# REST API version (vSphere 7+)
curl -sk "https://$TARGET/api/appliance/system/version"

# Cert metadata
echo | openssl s_client -connect "$TARGET:443" -servername "$TARGET" 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -text | grep -A1 "Subject Alt"

# SSO Admin Service (info disclosure)
curl -sk "https://$TARGET/sso-adminserver/sdk/vsphere.local"
curl -sk "https://$TARGET/websso/SAML2/Metadata/vsphere.local"

Map build → version → CVE applicability via VMware advisories (vmware.com/security/advisories).


Step 2 — CVE matrix (external-exploitable, sorted by historical impact)

CVE Affected Vector Status
CVE-2024-37085 ESXi 7.0/8.0 < specific patch AD group "ESX Admins" auto-admin bypass High — Domain takeover→ESXi RCE, exploited in ransomware ops
CVE-2024-22273 ESXi/Workstation/Fusion/vCenter storage controller OOB read/write — requires VM-local access (NOT a pre-auth network SSRF; see Section 9) Important (CVSS 8.1), not external pre-auth
CVE-2024-22252/53 Workstation/Fusion (not vCenter) Sandbox escape Not external
CVE-2023-34048 vCenter 7/8 < specific build DCE/RPC pre-auth heap OOB write → RCE Critical, patched 2023-10
CVE-2023-20887 Aria Operations for Networks Pre-auth command injection → RCE Critical
CVE-2023-20892 vCenter 7/8 Use-after-free in DCE/RPC High
CVE-2022-31656/31659 Workspace ONE Access 21.x Pre-auth SSRF + auth bypass Critical chained
CVE-2022-22954 Workspace ONE Access Pre-auth server-side template injection (SSTI) → RCE Critical, widely exploited
CVE-2021-22005 vCenter 6.7/7.0 < build Analytics service pre-auth file upload → RCE Critical
CVE-2021-21985 vCenter 6.5/6.7/7.0 < build vSAN Health Check plugin pre-auth RCE Critical
CVE-2021-21972 vCenter 6.5/6.7/7.0 < build vRealize plugin /ui/vropspluginui/rest/services/uploadova pre-auth file upload → RCE Critical, exploited heavily
CVE-2020-3992 ESXi OpenSLP Pre-auth use-after-free → RCE Critical, ESXi ransomware vector
CVE-2019-5544 ESXi OpenSLP Pre-auth heap overflow Critical

Step 3 — CVE-2021-21972 probe (still common on stale appliances)

# Detection only — DO NOT execute the file upload without explicit scope OK
curl -sk -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}\n" \
  "https://$TARGET/ui/vropspluginui/rest/services/uploadova"
# 405 → endpoint exists, version vulnerable
# 404 → patched (endpoint removed)
# 401 → patched (auth required)


…
FAQ

What is VMware vCenter/vSphere?

These are VMware software products for managing virtual servers and cloud infrastructure. vCenter is the main management console.

What is a CVE?

CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is a unique identifier for a known security vulnerability in software.

Can I use this tool on any VMware system?

No. This tool is for educational purposes or authorized security assessments only. You need explicit written permission from the system owner before using it.

Details

Original description by the author

VMware vSphere / vCenter Server external attack matrix

repo: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills

Popularity

GitHub stars
48k
Ranking position
#4514
License
MIT
Updated
10/15/2026

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