CVE-2022-31199
CVE-2022-31199 is a security flaw in Netwrix Auditor. Attackers can run their own code on Netwrix Auditor 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 11 Jul 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Netwrix Auditor 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. Netwrix has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an insecure object deserialization in Netwrix Auditor. In its words: “Netwrix Auditor User Activity Video Recording component contains an insecure objection deserialization vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute code as the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM user. Successful exploitation requires that the attacker is able to reach port 9004/TCP, which is commonly blocked by standard enterprise firewalling.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Remote code execution vulnerabilities exist in the Netwrix Auditor User Activity Video Recording component affecting both the Netwrix Auditor server and agents installed on monitored systems. The remote code execution vulnerabilities exist within the underlying protocol used by the component, and potentially allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code as the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM user on affected systems, including on systems Netwrix Auditor monitors.”[2]
The underlying weakness is deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502), heap buffer overflow (CWE-122), 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; Netwrix’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Netwrix Auditor.
Most families won’t have Netwrix Auditor; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 11 Jul 2023, 245 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 1 Aug 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 36%. That’s in the top 2% 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
Netwrix has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if updates are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Netwrix Auditor 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 1 Aug 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 9.8.[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 36%.[4] |
See also
Other deserialization of untrusted data flaws
- CVE-2021-23758, Ajax.NET Professional: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-63077, JetBrains TeamCity: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-50522, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-58644, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-45659, Microsoft SharePoint Server: deserialization of untrusted data ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-36874, Microsoft Windows: error reporting service privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2023-35311, Microsoft Outlook: security feature bypass ·
- CVE-2023-32049, Microsoft Windows: defender smartScreen security feature bypass ·
- CVE-2023-32046, Microsoft Windows: MSHTML platform privilege escalation ·
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Netwrix Auditor Insecure Object Deserialization Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 11 Jul 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-31199 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 8 Nov 2022.
- ^ Netwrix. Advisories and fixes: security.netwrix.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.360, percentile 98.5, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-31199”. 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.