CVE-2022-47966
CVE-2022-47966 is a security flaw in Zoho ManageEngine, Zoho’s IT management software. Attackers can run their own code on Zoho ManageEngine 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 23 Jan 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Zoho ManageEngine 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. Zoho has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a multiple products remote code execution in Zoho ManageEngine. In its words: “Multiple Zoho ManageEngine products contain an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability due to the usage of an outdated third-party dependency, Apache Santuario.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Multiple Zoho ManageEngine on-premise products, such as ServiceDesk Plus through 14003, allow remote code execution due to use of Apache Santuario xmlsec (aka XML Security for Java) 1.4.1, because the xmlsec XSLT features, by design in that version, make the application responsible for certain security protections, and the ManageEngine applications did not provide those protections. This affects Access Manager Plus before 4308, Active Directory 360 before 4310, ADAudit Plus before 7081, ADManager Plus before 7162, ADSelfService Plus before 6211, Analytics Plus before 5150, Application Control Plus before 10.1.2220.18, Asset Explorer before 6983, Browser Security Plus before 11.1.2238.6, Device Control Plus before 10.1.2220.18, Endpoint Central before 10.1.2228.11, Endpoint Central MSP before 10.1.2228.11, Endpoint DLP before 10.1.2137.6, Key Manager Plus before 6401,…”[2]
The underlying weakness is improper input validation (CWE-20), 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; Zoho’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Zoho ManageEngine.
Most families won’t have Zoho ManageEngine; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 23 Jan 2023, 5 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 13 Feb 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 over 99%. 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
Zoho has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Zoho ManageEngine 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 13 Feb 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 over 99%.[4] |
See also
Other Zoho ManageEngine flaws
- CVE-2022-28810: aDSelfService plus remote code execution ·
- CVE-2022-35405: multiple products remote code execution ·
- CVE-2021-40539: aDSelfService plus authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2020-10189: desktop central file upload ·
- CVE-2019-8394: serviceDesk plus (SDP) file upload ·
Other Zoho flaws
- CVE-2021-44515, Zoho Desktop Central: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2021-44077, Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus (SDP) / SupportCenter Plus: manageEngine serviceDesk plus remote code execution ·
- CVE-2021-37415, Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus (SDP): manageEngine serviceDesk authentication bypass ·
Other improper input validation flaws
- CVE-2026-93952, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2026-12569, PTC Windchill and FlexPLM: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-34910, Ubiquiti UniFi OS: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-6973, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): improper input validation ·
Every Zoho flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in January 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Zoho ManageEngine Multiple Products Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 23 Jan 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-47966 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 18 Jan 2023.
- ^ Zoho. Advisories and fixes: manageengine.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.998, percentile 100.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-47966”. 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.