CVE-2022-42948
Fortra Cobalt Strike User Interface Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Fortra Cobalt Strike
Cobalt Strike 4.7.1 fails to properly escape HTML tags when they are displayed on Swing components. By injecting crafted HTML code, it is possible to remotely execute code in the Cobalt Strike UI.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 30 March 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 20 April 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 2.7%, which is higher than 86.1% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2022-42948 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2022-42948.
What does CVE-2022-42948 affect?
CVE-2022-42948 affects Fortra Cobalt Strike. Cobalt Strike 4.7.1 fails to properly escape HTML tags when they are displayed on Swing components. By injecting crafted HTML code, it is possible to remotely execute code in the Cobalt Strike UI.
How severe is CVE-2022-42948?
CVE-2022-42948 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 9.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.7%, higher than 86.1% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 20 April 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2022-42948?
Apply the vendor patch for Fortra Cobalt Strike as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.