CVE-2022-24706
CVE-2022-24706 is a security flaw in Apache CouchDB, open-source software from the Apache Software Foundation. Someone who already has a foothold can use Apache CouchDB to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 25 Aug 2022.[1]
Apache CouchDB is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Apache has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an insecure default initialization of resource in Apache CouchDB. In its words: “Apache CouchDB contains an insecure default initialization of resource vulnerability which can allow an attacker to escalate to administrative privileges.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “In Apache CouchDB prior to 3.2.2, an attacker can access an improperly secured default installation without authenticating and gain admin privileges. The CouchDB documentation has always made recommendations for properly securing an installation, including recommending using a firewall in front of all CouchDB installations.”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-1188, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Apache’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Apache CouchDB.
Most families won’t have Apache CouchDB; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 25 Aug 2022, 121 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 15 Sep 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 93%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Apache has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Apache CouchDB is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 15 Sep 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 93%.[4] |
See also
Other Apache flaws
- CVE-2016-3081, Apache Struts: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-34486, Apache Tomcat: missing encryption of sensitive data ·
- CVE-2026-34197, Apache ActiveMQ: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2024-38475, Apache HTTP Server: improper escaping of output ·
- CVE-2025-24813, Apache Tomcat: path equivalence ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2025-48927, TeleMessage TM SGNL: initialization of a resource with an insecure default ·
- CVE-2023-6448, Unitronics Vision PLC and HMI: insecure default password ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-26352, dotCMS: unrestricted upload of file ·
- CVE-2022-24112, Apache APISIX: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2022-22963, VMware Tanzu Spring Cloud: function remote code execution ·
- CVE-2022-2294, WebRTC: heap buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2021-39226, Grafana Labs Grafana: authentication bypass ·
Every Apache flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in August 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apache CouchDB Insecure Default Initialization of Resource Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 25 Aug 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-24706 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 26 Apr 2022.
- ^ Apache. Advisories and fixes: lists.apache.org.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.925, percentile 99.8, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-24706”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.