CVE-2023-46805
Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure
An authentication bypass vulnerability in the web component of Ivanti ICS 9.x, 22.x and Ivanti Policy Secure allows a remote attacker to access restricted resources by bypassing control checks.
Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2023-46805
DragonForce is a major ransomware-as-a-service operation first observed in August 2023 that launched a formal affiliate program offering 80% revenue share, then rebranded as a "ransomware cartel" in 2025, gaining notoriety for high-profile attacks on UK retail
Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2023-46805 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 10 January 2024. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 22 January 2024. CISA records this vulnerability as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 100%, which is higher than 99.9% 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:L/A:N
Recent listings by these groups
Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-46805 being exploited by ransomware groups?
Yes. CVE-2023-46805 is recorded as exploited by Dragonforce. Between them these groups account for 638 victim disclosures in this database. CISA also records this vulnerability as used in ransomware campaigns.
What does CVE-2023-46805 affect?
CVE-2023-46805 affects Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure. An authentication bypass vulnerability in the web component of Ivanti ICS 9.x, 22.x and Ivanti Policy Secure allows a remote attacker to access restricted resources by bypassing control checks.
How severe is CVE-2023-46805?
CVE-2023-46805 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.2. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 100%, higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 22 January 2024.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-46805?
Apply the vendor patch for Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure 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.