# CVE-2021-38648: Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation

> Attackers can elevate privileges within Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure components used in Azure and System Center environments.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 10 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p8gr-7qcg-86p9

## What is CVE-2021-38648?

CVE-2021-38648 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration, DSC Extension, published on 15 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Open Management Infrastructure Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38648?

It affects 11 products.


Products: Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration, Microsoft Azure Automation Update Management, Microsoft Azure Diagnostics \(Lad\), Microsoft Azure Open Management Infrastructure, Microsoft Azure Security Center, Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Microsoft Azure Stack Hub, Microsoft Container Monitoring Solution, Microsoft Log Analytics Agent, Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38648?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38648 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 17 Nov 2021.

## Is CVE-2021-38648 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-38648 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft OMI Management Interface Authentication Bypass (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration, DSC Extension

- [CVE-2021-38647](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38647/): Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-38645](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38645/): Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-38649](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38649/): Microsoft Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Privilege Escalation (high 7.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-29149](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29149/): Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38648 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38648 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration, DSC Extension, published on 15 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-38648 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: Microsoft Azure Automation State Configuration, DSC Extension. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38648/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38648/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38648
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38648
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38648

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38648/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.