CVE-2022-42948: Fortra Cobalt Strike User Interface Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Patch now

CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2022-42948 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting cobalt strike, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.7% (top 14%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2023-04-20
Weakness	CWE-116
Published	2023-03-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: helpsystems

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-03-24 14:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2023-03-30Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2023-04-20Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 05:05 UTCUpdated Record last modified

helpsystems cobalt strike DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.7.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.7.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cobalt-strike || rpm -q cobalt-strike || cobalt-strike --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.7.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cobalt-strike sudo apt install cobalt-strike=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.7.1> sudo apt-mark hold cobalt-strike

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

dnf --showduplicates list cobalt-strike sudo dnf downgrade cobalt-strike-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.7.1> sudo dnf versionlock add cobalt-strike

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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · python-wrapt · FIXED · 2.5.2-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-5503ee9370 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-5503ee9370

Fedora 46 · python-wrapt · FIXED · 2.5.2-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-8a83579801 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-8a83579801

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: thesecmaster.com/how-to-fix-cve-2022-42948-a-critical-rce-vulnerability-in-cobalt-strike/
Write-up: www.cobaltstrike.com/blog/

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · 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-2022-42948?

cobalt strike: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2022-42948 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2022-42948 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2022-42948 affect?

CVE-2022-42948 affects cobalt strike. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). 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 urgent is CVE-2022-42948?

Priority 89/100. Critical severity; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2022-39197 MEDIUM 6.1 EXPLOITED UPGRADE Fortra Cobalt Strike Teamserver Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability

References

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