CVE-2022-23131
Zabbix Frontend Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2022-23131 is a CRITICAL authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability affecting Zabbix Frontend, carrying a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.1. Unsafe client-side session storage leading to authentication bypass/instance takeover via Zabbix Frontend with configured SAML. Affected products include Zabbix Zabbix (>= 5.4.0, <= 5.4.8; 6.0.0). This CVE is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog with a remediation deadline of 2022-03-08. With an EPSS score of 0.94252 (99.93th percentile), this vulnerability demonstrates significant real-world exploitation activity and should be prioritized for immediate remediation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:NOpen in CalculatorCWEs
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| zabbix | zabbix | >= 5.4.0, <= 5.4.8; 6.0.0 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://support.zabbix.com/browse/ZBX-20350(Issue Tracking, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-23131(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-290: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
CVE-2022-23131 is classified under CWE-290 — Authentication Bypass by Spoofing. Authentication Bypass by Spoofing is a vulnerability caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks. This weakness occurs when systems make authentication decisions based on attributes that can be forged or manipulated by attackers, such as source IP addresses, DNS lookups, HTTP headers, or other externally-controllable values. Rather than verifying credentials directly, vulnerable systems trust identity claims that attackers can falsify, enabling unauthorized access without proper authentication.
In the context of Zabbix Frontend, this weakness is particularly concerning because Spoofing-based authentication bypass creates severe security risks because the authentication mechanism itself is fundamentally flawed. IP address-based authentication can be defeated through IP spoofing where attackers forge source addresses, particularly effective on networks without egress filtering. DNS-based trust decisions are vulnerable to DNS cache poisoning and DNS hijacking attacks that return attacker-controlled hostnames for IP lookups. Organizations using affected versions should understand that this vulnerability class has historically enabled severe compromises across enterprise environments.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2022-23131 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.1 (CRITICAL) with Unchanged Scope.
Confidentiality (HIGH): Successful exploitation grants the attacker extensive access to sensitive data processed by Zabbix Frontend, including configuration files, credentials, and potentially data from connected systems.
Integrity (HIGH): Attackers can modify critical system files, install backdoors, alter configurations, or deploy malware on affected systems running Zabbix Frontend.
Availability (NONE): Availability impact is minimal for this vulnerability.
Scope Unchanged: The vulnerability's scope is Unchanged (U), meaning exploitation is contained within the vulnerable component. The impact, while significant, is limited to the Zabbix Frontend environment itself.
With an EPSS score of 0.94252 (99.93th percentile), this vulnerability ranks among the most likely to be exploited in real-world attacks, underscoring the urgency of remediation.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2022-23131 has confirmed active exploitation in the wild and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Exploit status: This vulnerability has been actively exploited, as confirmed by its inclusion in the KEV catalog. The EPSS score of 0.94252 (99.93th percentile) places it among the most exploited vulnerabilities tracked.
Ransomware association: As of the latest KEV data, no direct ransomware association has been confirmed for CVE-2022-23131. However, the confirmed exploitation in the wild means threat actors are actively using this vulnerability in attacks.
Attack surface: While specific public exploit code may not be readily available, the vulnerability's high EPSS score and KEV listing confirm that threat actors have developed and used working exploits. Organizations should assume exploitation tools exist in underground markets and private threat actor toolkits.
KEV deadline: CISA required federal agencies to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-03-08. All organizations should treat this deadline as a strong recommendation for their own remediation timelines.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately. Apply updates per vendor instructions. Consult the vendor advisory at support.zabbix.com for specific patch guidance.
- Verify affected product versions in your environment. Identify all instances of Zabbix Frontend in your infrastructure (affected versions: Zabbix Zabbix (>= 5.4.0, <= 5.4.8; 6.0.0)). Use asset inventory and vulnerability scanning tools to ensure no instances are missed.
- Implement interim mitigations if patching is delayed. If immediate patching is not feasible, apply network-level controls such as restricting access to the affected component, enabling enhanced logging, and monitoring for indicators of compromise.
- Scan for signs of prior exploitation. Given the confirmed active exploitation of this vulnerability, review system logs and security monitoring data for evidence of compromise. Conduct a thorough investigation if any suspicious activity is detected.
- Update detection signatures and monitoring rules. Ensure intrusion detection and prevention systems, endpoint detection tools, and SIEM rules are updated to detect exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2022-23131.
- Conduct a post-remediation review. After patching, verify the fix is effective and document the remediation actions taken. Update your vulnerability management records and assess whether any additional hardening measures are warranted.
Technical Details
CVE-2022-23131 is a CRITICAL-severity vulnerability in Zabbix Frontend that can be exploited remotely over the network without physical access. The attack complexity is low, meaning no specialized conditions or preparation are required beyond the attack prerequisites. No prior authentication or privileges are needed to initiate the attack. No user interaction is required, allowing fully automated exploitation once the target is accessible.
Technical mechanism: Unsafe client-side session storage leading to authentication bypass/instance takeover via Zabbix Frontend with configured SAML. The underlying flaw relates to authentication bypass by spoofing, where Authentication Bypass by Spoofing is a vulnerability caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks. This weakness occurs when systems make authentication decisions based on attributes that can be forged or manipulated by attackers, such as source IP addresses, DNS lookups, HTTP headers, or other externally-controllable values.
CVSS 3.1 vector analysis: The vector reflects an Attack Vector of NETWORK, Attack Complexity of LOW, Privileges Required of NONE, User Interaction of NONE, Scope UNCHANGED, and impact ratings of HIGH/HIGH/NONE for Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability respectively. The Unchanged scope means impact is contained within the vulnerable component itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-23131?
CVE-2022-23131 is a CRITICAL-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.1) in Zabbix Frontend that unsafe client-side session storage leading to authentication bypass/instance takeover via Zabbix Frontend with configured SAML. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming real-world exploitation.
Which products are affected by CVE-2022-23131?
The affected products include Zabbix Zabbix (>= 5.4.0, <= 5.4.8; 6.0.0). Organizations running any of these versions should verify their exposure and prioritize remediation. Check vendor advisories for the complete and most current list of affected versions.
How do I fix CVE-2022-23131?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Ensure all affected instances of Zabbix Frontend are identified using vulnerability scanning and asset management tools. If immediate patching is not possible, implement network-level mitigations and enhanced monitoring. After patching, verify the fix and scan for indicators of prior compromise.
How severe is CVE-2022-23131?
CVE-2022-23131 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.1. Its EPSS score of 0.94252 places it in the 99.93th percentile for exploitation likelihood. The vulnerability has confirmed active exploitation in the wild and was required to be remediated by federal agencies by 2022-03-08 per CISA's KEV directive.
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