HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-38645
HIGHCISA KEVIN THE WILD

CVE-2021-38645

Published: November 3, 2021

EPSS:14.61%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:94.3th

Official Description

Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) within Azure VM Management Extensions contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

NVD Source

CISA KEV Advisory

Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) within Azure VM Management Extensions contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

Added to KEV: 2021-11-03Federal patch deadline: 2021-11-17
Required Action (CISA)

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Risk Analysis

This unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) within Azure VM Management Extensions allows for privilege escalation. Given its high severity and confirmed exploitation in the wild, it presents a significant risk for systems utilizing Azure VM Management Extensions. The EPSS score of 0.14607 indicates a notable likelihood of exploitation.

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and is listed in CISA's KEV catalog. The specific exploitation vector is not detailed but leads to privilege escalation.

Recommended Action

Apply the latest security updates for Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) within Azure VM Management Extensions. Ensure all Azure VMs are regularly patched and configured with least privilege.

Generated by the CTIWATCH analysis pipeline from this CVE's metadata (CVSS, EPSS, KEV status, exploit intelligence). Verify against vendor advisories before acting.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-38645 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

CISA has added CVE-2021-38645 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. U.S. federal agencies are required to patch this within the mandated timeframe, and all organizations should treat remediation as urgent.

Affected Vendors & Products

Mentioned vendors (from description):
Microsoft
CPE data not yet available in NVD for this CVE.

Exploit & PoC Resources

ACTIVE EXPLOITATIONConfirmed exploitation in the wild
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

All References (1)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2021-38645
SeverityHIGH
CISA KEVYES — Active Exploitation
ExploitIN THE WILD
EPSS (30d)14.61%
PublishedNov 3, 2021

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2021-38645 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
  • !CISA KEV: Federal agencies must patch per BOD 22-01 timeline
  • !Active exploitation confirmed — treat as P1
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.