Skip to main content
Meet us at Black Hat USA 2026— Las Vegas, August 1–6Book a Meeting
Mallory
HighCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Directory Traversal in Zimbra Collaboration Suite mboximport

IdentifiersCVE-2022-27925CWE-22· Improper Limitation of a Pathname…

CVE-2022-27925 is a high-severity directory traversal vulnerability in Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) 8.8.15 and 9.0. The flaw is in the mboximport functionality, which accepts a ZIP archive and extracts files from it. Due to improper restriction of file paths during archive extraction, an attacker can supply archive entries containing traversal sequences and upload arbitrary files to unintended locations on the server filesystem. The provided context states that exploitation requires an authenticated user with administrator rights. Multiple reports also note that this issue was observed chained with CVE-2022-37042, an authentication bypass in MailboxImportServlet, allowing attackers to reach the vulnerable import path without valid admin authentication.

Share:
For your environment

Are you exposed to this one?

Mallory correlates every CVE against your assets, your vendors, and active adversary campaigns. Know which vulnerabilities matter for you, not just which ones are loud.

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 arbitrary file upload via crafted ZIP contents and write access outside the intended extraction directory. This can enable placement of attacker-controlled files in sensitive filesystem locations, including web-accessible paths, which may lead to persistent compromise such as webshell deployment. In observed real-world activity, the vulnerability was exploited against internet-facing Zimbra servers and was associated with broad compromise of ZCS instances. Depending on file placement and server configuration, impact can extend from unauthorized file write and application compromise to remote code execution through deployed server-side payloads.

Mitigation

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

If immediate patching is not possible, restrict access to Zimbra administrative functionality and minimize exposure of internet-facing ZCS services. Limit or disable access to mboximport functionality where operationally feasible, enforce strong administrative access controls, and monitor for suspicious requests related to mailbox import and unexpected archive extraction behavior. Because exploitation has been observed in the wild, organizations with exposed or unpatched systems should assume possible compromise and hunt for unauthorized file writes, JSP webshells, and related IOCs. Additional compensating controls include network access restrictions to admin interfaces, MFA for administrative accounts where supported, and web application monitoring/detection signatures for mboximport abuse.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the vendor-provided fixes for Zimbra Collaboration Suite addressing CVE-2022-27925 and, where applicable, also remediate CVE-2022-37042 because the two were observed chained in the wild. Upgrade affected ZCS 8.8.15 and 9.0 deployments to patched releases from Zimbra. After patching, review systems for indicators of compromise, especially unauthorized files in web roots or mailbox import-related paths, and investigate for webshells or other persistence mechanisms if the instance was internet-exposed or patching was delayed.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

6 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.

VALID 6 / 6 TOTALView more in app
CVE-2022-27925MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python exploit for CVE-2022-27925, a remote code execution vulnerability in Zimbra Collaboration Suite Network Edition (versions 9.0.0 Patch 23 and earlier, and 8.8.15 Patch 30 and earlier). The exploit works by uploading a malicious JSP webshell to the Zimbra server using a crafted ZIP archive and a vulnerable import endpoint. The main exploit logic is in 'main.py', which reads a list of target servers, attempts to upload the webshell to several possible directories using path traversal, and then accesses the webshell to execute arbitrary commands provided by the user. The payload is a JSP webshell that executes system commands via the 'cmd' parameter. The attack is performed over HTTP/HTTPS and targets the '/service/extension/backup/mboximport' endpoint for the upload, and '/zimbraAdmin/<random>.jsp' for command execution. The repository is operational and provides a working exploit with a hardcoded payload. The structure is simple, with a single code file, a README with usage instructions, and a license.

SystemVllDisclosed Oct 1, 2022pythonnetwork
CVE-2022-27925MaturityPoCFrameworknucleiVerified exploit

This repository contains a Nuclei template (CVE-2022-27925.yaml) for exploiting CVE-2022-27925, a critical unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) versions 8.8.15 and 9.0. The template sends a crafted POST request to the /service/extension/backup/mboximport endpoint, uploading a ZIP archive that leverages directory traversal to place a JSP webshell (cmd.jsp) in the webapps directory. The template then issues a GET request to the webshell, executing a command (e.g., 'cat /etc/passwd') and checks for evidence of successful command execution. The repository structure is minimal, consisting of the Nuclei YAML template and a brief README. The main exploit file is the YAML template, which automates the exploitation process and verification of successful code execution. No hardcoded IPs or domains are present; the template is parameterized for use against arbitrary targets.

akinciborDisclosed Sep 12, 2022yamlnetwork
CVE-2022-27925MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python exploit (exploit.py) targeting CVE-2022-27925 and CVE-2022-37042 in Zimbra Collaboration Suite Network Edition. The exploit leverages a path traversal vulnerability in the mboximport endpoint, combined with an authentication bypass, to upload a JSP webshell to the Zimbra server. The attacker can then interact with the webshell to execute arbitrary commands on the server. The exploit supports both single-target and multi-target modes, reading targets from a file. The README provides detailed background on the vulnerabilities, affected versions, and usage instructions. The main exploit logic is in exploit.py, which constructs a malicious ZIP file containing the webshell, uploads it via the vulnerable endpoint, and verifies successful exploitation by accessing the deployed webshell. The exploit is operational and provides remote command execution as the Zimbra user, with the potential for privilege escalation to root using a separate local exploit. No detection-only scripts are present; the code is a working exploit. The only code file is exploit.py, written in Python, and the repository is structured with standard supporting files (.gitignore, LICENSE, README.md). The main attack vector is network-based, targeting HTTPS endpoints exposed by vulnerable Zimbra servers.

Josexv1Disclosed Aug 20, 2022pythonnetwork
CVE-2022-27925-PoCMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository is a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2022-27925, a remote code execution vulnerability in Zimbra Collaboration Suite. The main file, 'zimbra-exploit.py', is a Python script that attempts to upload a malicious ZIP file (containing a JSP web shell) to a vulnerable Zimbra server via the '/service/extension/backup/mboximport' endpoint. The script requires the attacker to provide the target URL and a valid email address as arguments. After uploading, it checks for the presence of the web shell at '/zimbraAdmin/cmd.jsp'. The repository consists of a README and the exploit script; the ZIP files referenced as payloads are expected to be present in the working directory. The exploit leverages network access to the Zimbra server and targets endpoints that are specific to the Zimbra backup import functionality.

vnhacker1337Disclosed Aug 12, 2022pythonnetwork
CVE-2022-27925-RevshellMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python exploit script (exp.py) targeting Zimbra Collaboration Suite servers vulnerable to CVE-2022-27925, an unauthenticated remote code execution flaw. The exploit works by crafting a malicious ZIP file containing a JSP webshell or reverse shell, which is uploaded to the server via a vulnerable mboximport endpoint. The script supports both single-target and mass exploitation modes, and can deploy either a webshell (for arbitrary command execution via HTTP) or a reverse shell (connecting back to the attacker's machine). The README provides usage instructions and describes the required parameters. The main code file is exp.py, which handles argument parsing, payload generation, exploitation logic, and result verification. The exploit is operational and provides real remote code execution if the target is vulnerable.

ChocapikkDisclosed Aug 26, 2022pythonnetwork
Zimbra_CVE-2022-37042-_CVE-2022-27925MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a proof-of-concept exploit for Zimbra Collaboration Suite vulnerabilities CVE-2022-37042 and CVE-2022-27925. The main file, poc.py, is a Python script that crafts a malicious ZIP archive containing a JSP web shell and uploads it to a vulnerable Zimbra server via the /service/extension/backup/mboximport endpoint. Once uploaded, the shell can be accessed at /zimbraAdmin/shell.jsp, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the server. The exploit demonstrates remote code execution by uploading the shell and issuing a 'whoami' command. The repository structure is simple, consisting of a README and the exploit script. The exploit is operational, providing a working payload (JSP web shell) and targeting Zimbra servers accessible over the network.

GreyNoise-IntelligenceDisclosed Aug 18, 2022pythonnetwork
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
ZimbraZimbra Collaboration Suiteapplication

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 evidence3

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware7

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.