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Actively exploited

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

Fortra Cobalt Strike User Interface contains an unspecified vulnerability rooted in Java Swing that may allow remote code execution.

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 30 Mar 2023.
  • Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,317 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

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.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Fortra Cobalt Strike. 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

Vendor Advisories

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 20 Apr 2023 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 Fortra Flaws

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CVE-2025-10035 · RansomwareFortra GoAnywhere MFT Deserialization of Untrusted Data VulnerabilityAdded 29 Sep 2025CVE-2022-39197Fortra Cobalt Strike Teamserver Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) VulnerabilityAdded 30 Mar 2023CVE-2023-0669 · RansomwareFortra GoAnywhere MFT Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityAdded 10 Feb 2023

All 4 exploited Fortra vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2022-42948 and every other exploited flaw on the list.

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2022-42948
  3. CVE record: CVE-2022-42948
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. cobaltstrike.com/blog/out-of-band-update-cobalt-strike-4-7-2/
  6. cobaltstrike.com/blog/
  7. redpacketsecurity.com/helpsystems-cobalt-strike-code-execution-cve-2022-42948/
  8. thesecmaster.com/how-to-fix-cve-2022-42948-a-critical-rce-vulnerability-in-cobalt-strike/