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CriticalCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Unauthenticated RCE in Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus / SupportCenter Plus

IdentifiersCVE-2021-44077CWE-306· Missing Authentication for…

CVE-2021-44077 is a critical unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability affecting Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus before 11306, ServiceDesk Plus MSP before 10530, and SupportCenter Plus before 11014. The issue is related to /RestAPI URLs handled by a servlet and to ImportTechnicians in the Struts configuration. Reporting in the provided content states that exploitation can be performed with two unauthenticated remote requests via the ServiceDesk Plus REST API: the first uploads an executable specifically named msiexec.exe, and the second triggers execution of that uploaded payload. Observed intrusions used this access to place and run malicious binaries and deploy web shells, including a modified Godzilla-style payload implemented as an Apache Tomcat Servlet Filter.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the vulnerable ManageEngine server. In observed cases, attackers used the vulnerability for initial access, uploaded and launched malicious binaries, installed web shells for persistence, tunneled RDP, performed credential-access activity, and stole confidential information. Because the affected products are help desk platforms that are often internet-facing and may run with significant application privileges, compromise can lead to full server takeover and enable broader post-compromise activity in the victim environment.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, remove affected applications from internet exposure, restrict access to trusted management networks or VPN-only access, and monitor aggressively for exploitation attempts against /RestAPI endpoints and anomalous execution from ManageEngine installation paths. Inspect for suspicious uploads and execution of files named msiexec.exe, unexpected JSP files, and unauthorized Tomcat filter/JAR modifications. Deploy detections for ManageEngine exploitation activity, web shell behavior, suspicious PowerShell or Plink execution, and outbound connections to attacker infrastructure. Because exploitation is unauthenticated and has been observed in the wild, temporary isolation of exposed vulnerable servers is an appropriate mitigation until patching and forensic review are completed.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade to fixed versions released by Zoho: ServiceDesk Plus 11306 or later, ServiceDesk Plus MSP 10530 or later, and SupportCenter Plus 11014 or later. Apply Zoho’s November 2021 security advisory guidance for CVE-2021-44077 and verify that no vulnerable internet-exposed instances remain. Given documented active exploitation, remediation should include incident-response validation on previously exposed systems: review for unauthorized files such as unexpected msiexec.exe in product directories, JSP web shells, malicious JARs under Tomcat libraries, suspicious REST API activity, and other persistence or post-exploitation artifacts before returning systems to service.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.

VALID 1 / 1 TOTALView more in app
CVE-2021-44077MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository provides a working exploit for CVE-2021-44077, a pre-authentication remote code execution vulnerability in ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus versions prior to build 11306. The exploit is implemented in a single Python script ('exploit.py') that takes two arguments: the base URL of the target ServiceDesk Plus instance and the path to a Windows executable payload. The script uploads the payload to a specific REST API endpoint and then triggers its execution via another endpoint, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the target server. The README provides detailed usage instructions, including how to generate a payload (e.g., with msfvenom) and how to set up a listener for a reverse shell. The exploit requires the 'requests' Python library and is operational, allowing attackers to run arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. No detection or scanning functionality is present; the script is solely for exploitation. The repository is well-structured, with clear documentation and a single exploit script as the main code file.

horizon3aiDisclosed Dec 8, 2021pythonnetwork
EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
ZohocorpManageengine Servicedesk Plusapplication
ZohocorpManageengine Servicedesk Plus Mspapplication
ZohocorpManageengine Supportcenter Plusapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence1

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware3

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

Unauthenticated RCE in Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus / SupportCenter Plus (CVE-2021-44077) | Mallory