CRITICAL · CVSS 10 CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability Used in ransomware attacks

CVE-2024-1709

ConnectWise ScreenConnect Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

ConnectWise ScreenConnect

ConnectWise ScreenConnect 23.9.7 and prior are affected by an Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability, which may allow an attacker direct access to confidential information or critical systems.

CVSS
10
CRITICAL
EPSS
100%
30-day exploitation
Ransomware groups
1
recorded exploiting
Published
21 Feb 2024
CWE-288

Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2024-1709

Blackbasta 193 victims tracked

"Black Basta" is a new ransomware strain discovered during April 2022 - looks in dev since at least early February 2022 - and due to their ability to quickly amass new victims and the style of their negotiations, this is likely not a new operation but rather a

Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2024-1709 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.

Exploitation status

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Listed by CISA on 22 February 2024. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 29 February 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:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Recent listings by these groups

Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2024-1709 being exploited by ransomware groups?

Yes. CVE-2024-1709 is recorded as exploited by Blackbasta. Between them these groups account for 193 victim disclosures in this database. CISA also records this vulnerability as used in ransomware campaigns.

What does CVE-2024-1709 affect?

CVE-2024-1709 affects ConnectWise ScreenConnect. ConnectWise ScreenConnect 23.9.7 and prior are affected by an Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability, which may allow an attacker direct access to confidential information or critical systems.

How severe is CVE-2024-1709?

CVE-2024-1709 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 10. 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 29 February 2024.

How should organisations respond to CVE-2024-1709?

Apply the vendor patch for ConnectWise ScreenConnect 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.