Webserver Detection of POST Logupload Attempt for VMware View Planner CVE-2021-21978

Alerts on webserver POST requests targeting logupload/logMetaData parameters tied to CVE-2021-21978 probing.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Category: webserver
Author: Bhabesh Raj (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-03-10
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
- T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies webserver requests that use HTTP POST and include specific query parameters associated with a log upload workflow (logupload, logMetaData, and wsgi_log_upload.py). Such patterns can indicate an attempted exploitation of the VMware View Planner vulnerability tied to CVE-2021-21978. It relies on webserver HTTP request telemetry capturing method and the full request URI query string.

Reporting behind it

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Webserver Detection of POST Logupload Attempt for VMware View Planner CVE-2021-21978

Pivot detection · T1190 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

webserver-post-to-vmware-view-planner-logupload-endpoint-with-cve-2021-21978-pro-77586a7f

title: Webserver Detection of POST Logupload Attempt for VMware View Planner CVE-2021-21978
id: db849610-3d2c-46b6-b89f-ac5c98ccf745
status: test
description: This rule identifies webserver requests that use HTTP POST and include specific query parameters associated with a log upload workflow (logupload, logMetaData, and wsgi_log_upload.py). Such patterns can indicate an attempted exploitation of the VMware View Planner vulnerability tied to CVE-2021-21978. It relies on webserver HTTP request telemetry capturing method and the full request URI query string.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/wugeej/status/1369476795255320580
  - https://paper.seebug.org/1495/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2021/Exploits/CVE-2021-21978/web_cve_2021_21978_vmware_view_planner_exploit.yml
author: Bhabesh Raj, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-03-10
modified: 2023-01-02
tags:
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.t1190
  - cve.2021-21978
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: webserver
detection:
  selection:
    cs-method: POST
    cs-uri-query|contains|all:
      - logupload
      - logMetaData
      - wsgi_log_upload.py
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 77586a7f-7ea4-4c41-b19c-820140b84ca9
    type: derived

Convert

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