CVE-2022-42045: Certain Zemana products are vulnerable to Arbitrary code injection

Routine

MEDIUM 6.7DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2022-42045 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.7) affecting anti-virus, antimalware. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Certain Zemana products are vulnerable to Arbitrary code injection. This affects Watchdog Anti-Malware 4.1.422 and Zemana AntiMalware 3.2.28.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.7 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 54%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-94
Published	2023-07-13
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: watchdog · zemana

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-07-13 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:04 UTCUpdated Record last modified

watchdog anti-virus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.1.422

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.1.422

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy anti-virus || rpm -q anti-virus || anti-virus --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.1.422 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison anti-virus sudo apt install anti-virus=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.1.422> sudo apt-mark hold anti-virus

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list anti-virus sudo dnf downgrade anti-virus-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.1.422> sudo dnf versionlock add anti-virus

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

zemana antimalware DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.2.28

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.2.28

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy antimalware || rpm -q antimalware || antimalware --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.2.28 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison antimalware sudo apt install antimalware=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.2.28> sudo apt-mark hold antimalware

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list antimalware sudo dnf downgrade antimalware-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.2.28> sudo dnf versionlock add antimalware

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2022-42045?

anti-virus: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; antimalware: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2022-42045 being exploited?

CVE-2022-42045 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2022-42045 affect?

CVE-2022-42045 affects anti-virus, antimalware. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.7). Certain Zemana products are vulnerable to Arbitrary code injection. This affects Watchdog Anti-Malware 4.1.422 and Zemana AntiMalware 3.2.28.

How urgent is CVE-2022-42045?

Priority 35/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

References

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