CVE-2022-47986
CVE-2022-47986 is a security flaw in IBM Aspera Faspex. Attackers can run their own code on IBM Aspera Faspex. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 21 Feb 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
IBM Aspera Faspex 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. IBM has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a code execution in IBM Aspera Faspex. In its words: “IBM Aspera Faspex could allow a remote attacker to execute code on the system, caused by a YAML deserialization flaw.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “IBM Aspera Faspex 4.4.2 Patch Level 1 and earlier could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by a YAML deserialization flaw. By sending a specially crafted obsolete API call, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system. The obsolete API call was removed in Faspex 4.4.2 PL2. IBM X-Force ID: 243512.”[2]
The underlying weakness is deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502), 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; IBM’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as IBM Aspera Faspex.
Most families won’t have IBM Aspera Faspex; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 21 Feb 2023, 4 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 14 Mar 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
IBM has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.IBM Aspera Faspex 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 14 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, 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 IBM flaws
- CVE-2026-9198, IBM Langflow: code injection ·
- CVE-2013-3993, IBM InfoSphere BigInsights: invalid input ·
- CVE-2015-7450, IBM WebSphere Application Server and Server Hypervisor Edition: code injection. ·
- CVE-2020-4430, IBM Data Risk Manager: directory traversal ·
- CVE-2020-4428, IBM Data Risk Manager: remote code execution ·
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-2022-41223, Mitel MiVoice Connect: code injection ·
- CVE-2022-40765, Mitel MiVoice Connect: command injection ·
Every IBM flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in February 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “IBM Aspera Faspex Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 21 Feb 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-47986 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 17 Feb 2023.
- ^ IBM. Advisories and fixes: exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com, exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com, ibm.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 1.000, percentile 100.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-47986”. 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.