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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2021-22893 Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute code via license services.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated Critical severity (CVSS 10.0, scored by CISA).
  • This product type is often exposed to the internet, which is where attackers scan for it first.
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

Pulse Connect Secure 9.0R3/9.1R1 and higher is vulnerable to an authentication bypass vulnerability exposed by the Windows File Share Browser and Pulse Secure Collaboration features of Pulse Connect Secure that can allow an unauthenticated user to perform remote arbitrary code execution on the Pulse Connect Secure gateway. This vulnerability has been exploited in the wild.

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
Pulse Connect SecurePCS 9.0R3 or above, PCS 9.1R1 and above

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing
Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated critical, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 3 May 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited Ivanti Flaws

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CVE-2026-118527Ivanti Connect Secure Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers VulnerabilityAdded 30 Oct 2026CVE-2026-111357Ivanti Connect Secure Missing Authentication for Critical Function VulnerabilityAdded 30 Oct 2026CVE-2026-104935Ivanti Connect Secure Authentication Bypass by Spoofing VulnerabilityAdded 13 Oct 2026CVE-2026-10520Ivanti Sentry OS Command Injection VulnerabilityAdded 11 Jun 2026CVE-2026-6973Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) Improper Input Validation VulnerabilityAdded 7 May 2026CVE-2026-1340Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) Code Injection VulnerabilityAdded 8 Apr 2026

All 38 exploited Ivanti vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2021-22893 and every other exploited flaw on the list.

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2021-22893
  3. CVE record: CVE-2021-22893
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44784/
  6. blog.pulsesecure.net/pulse-connect-secure-security-update/
  7. fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2021/04/suspected-apt-actors-leverage-bypass-techniques-pulse-secur
  8. kb.cert.org/vuls/id/213092