CVE-2022-41352 Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability
Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) allows an attacker to upload arbitrary files using cpio package to gain incorrect access to any other user accounts.
From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.
Should You Worry?
- CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 20 Oct 2022.
- CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
- This product type is often exposed to the internet, which is where attackers scan for it first.
- Named in Cybergen threat actor reporting: Sandworm.
- It has been in the catalogue for 1,478 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
What It Is
An issue was discovered in Zimbra Collaboration (ZCS) 8.8.15 and 9.0. An attacker can upload arbitrary files through amavis via a cpio loophole (extraction to /opt/zimbra/jetty/webapps/zimbra/public) that can lead to incorrect access to any other user accounts. Zimbra recommends pax over cpio. Also, pax is in the prerequisites of Zimbra on Ubuntu; however, pax is no longer part of a default Red Hat installation after RHEL 6 (or CentOS 6). Once pax is installed, amavis automatically prefers it over cpio.
What To Do Now
- 1
Find it
Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS). Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.
Attack Surface Management - 2
- 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
Prove it is fixed
Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.
Penetration Testing
The Compliance Clock
General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.
Not Sure If You Are Exposed?
Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2022-41352 and every other exploited flaw on the list.
Sources
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
- NVD: CVE-2022-41352
- CVE record: CVE-2022-41352
- FIRST EPSS
- wiki.zimbra.com/wiki/Security_Center
- wiki.zimbra.com/wiki/Zimbra_Security_Advisories
- forums.zimbra.org/viewtopic.php?t=71153&p=306532
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/169458/Zimbra-Collaboration-Suite-TAR-Path-Traversal.html
- secpod.com/blog/unpatched-rce-bug-in-zimbra-collaboration-suite-exploited-in-wild/
