CVE-2022-26500
CVE-2022-26500 is a security flaw in Veeam Backup & Replication, backup software companies use. Attackers can run their own code on Veeam Backup & Replication from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 13 Dec 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Veeam Backup & Replication 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. Veeam has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a remote code execution in Veeam Backup & Replication. In its words: “The Veeam Distribution Service in the Backup & Replication application allows unauthenticated users to access internal API functions. A remote attacker can send input to the internal API which may lead to uploading and executing of malicious code.”[1]
The underlying weakness is path traversal (CWE-22), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Veeam’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Veeam Backup & Replication.
Most families won’t have Veeam Backup & Replication; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 13 Dec 2022, 271 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 3 Jan 2023 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
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 6%. That’s in the top 7% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Veeam has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Veeam Backup & Replication 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 3 Jan 2023 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 8.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[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 6%.[4] |
See also
Other Veeam Backup & Replication flaws
- CVE-2024-40711: backup and replication deserialization ·
- CVE-2023-27532: cloud connect missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2022-26501: remote code execution ·
Other path traversal flaws
- CVE-2025-61624, Fortinet products: path traversal ·
- CVE-2021-3199, ONLYOFFICE Docs: server path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-104286, Fortinet FortiMail: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-93616, Check Point products: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-66384, JFrog Artifactory: improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-44698, Microsoft Defender: smartScreen security feature bypass ·
- CVE-2022-42475, Fortinet FortiOS: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2022-27518, Citrix Application Delivery Controller (ADC) and Gateway: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2022-26501, Veeam Backup & Replication: remote code execution ·
Every Veeam flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in December 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Veeam Backup & Replication Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 13 Dec 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-26500 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 17 Mar 2022.
- ^ Veeam. Advisories and fixes: veeam.com, veeam.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.058, percentile 93.2, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-26500”. 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.