Fortra Cobalt Strike User Interface Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Fortra Cobalt Strike User Interface contains an unspecified vulnerability rooted in Java Swing that may allow remote code execution.
A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2023-04-20 under CISA BOD 22-01.
This is a Software Vulnerability (CWE-116) (CWE-116) vulnerability in 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 requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.
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Phishing link
🖼
Malicious file
🔓
Server compromised
Probably yes if any of these apply:
Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://thesecmaster.com/how-to-fix-cve-2022-42948-a-critical-rce-vulnerability-in-cobalt-strike/
Manual remediation steps
Apply the Vendor Patch
This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.
CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
References
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References