CVE-2022-46169
CVE-2022-46169 is a security flaw in Cacti. Attackers can run their own code on Cacti 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 16 Feb 2023.[1]
Cacti 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. Fixed in version 1.2.23 of cacti.
Description
CISA calls it a command injection in Cacti Cacti. In its words: “Cacti contains a command injection vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated user to execute code.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Cacti is an open source platform which provides a robust and extensible operational monitoring and fault management framework for users. In affected versions a command injection vulnerability allows an unauthenticated user to execute arbitrary code on a server running Cacti, if a specific data source was selected for any monitored device. The vulnerability resides in the `remote_agent.php` file. This file can be accessed without authentication. This function retrieves the IP address of the client via `get_client_addr` and resolves this IP address to the corresponding hostname via `gethostbyaddr`. After this, it is verified that an entry within the `poller` table exists, where the hostname corresponds to the resolved hostname. If such an entry was found, the function returns `true` and the client is authorized. This authorization can be bypassed due to the…”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-74, 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 lists one fixed version: everything before it is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| cacti | 1.2.23 |
Most families won’t have Cacti; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 16 Feb 2023, 73 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 9 Mar 2023 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 over 99%. That’s in the top 1% 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
Cacti has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Cacti 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 (fixed in version 1.2.23 of cacti), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 9 Mar 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.[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 over 99%.[4] |
See also
Similar flaws
- CVE-2025-20337, Cisco Identity Services Engine: injection ·
- CVE-2025-20281, Cisco Identity Services Engine: injection ·
- CVE-2022-43769, Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics (BA) Server: pentaho BA server special element injection ·
- CVE-2023-22527, Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server: template injection ·
- CVE-2022-35914, Teclib GLPI: remote code execution ·
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Cacti Command Injection Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 16 Feb 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-46169 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 5 Dec 2022.
- ^ Cacti. Advisories and fixes: github.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.998, percentile 100.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-46169”. 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.