CVE-2022-36977 in Avalanche
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2023
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Ivanti Avalanche 6.3.2.3490. Although authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, the existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed. The specific flaw exists within the Certificate Management Server service. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in deserialization of untrusted data. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the service account. Was ZDI-CAN-15449.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36977 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Ivanti Avalanche version 6.3.2.3490 that undermines the security posture of affected systems through a sophisticated exploitation vector. This vulnerability specifically targets the Certificate Management Server service component within the Ivanti Avalanche platform, which serves as a critical infrastructure element for managing digital certificates across enterprise environments. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code within the targeted environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which categorizes deserialization of untrusted data as a dangerous practice that can lead to remote code execution when attackers can manipulate serialized objects. The authentication bypass aspect of this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it removes the traditional access control barriers that would normally prevent unauthorized exploitation, making the vulnerability accessible to attackers who may not possess legitimate credentials. This authentication bypass likely occurs through weaknesses in session management, credential validation, or service access controls that allow attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to the Certificate Management Server service.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks including complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The execution of code in the context of the service account presents a particularly severe threat as service accounts typically possess elevated privileges and access rights to critical system resources. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges further, and gain access to sensitive certificate stores that may contain encryption keys, digital signatures, and other critical cryptographic materials. The Certificate Management Server service often handles sensitive certificate lifecycle operations, making this attack vector particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise security infrastructure.
The security implications extend beyond immediate exploitation as this vulnerability can facilitate broader attack chains within enterprise environments where Ivanti Avalanche is deployed. Organizations may experience cascading security failures if attackers use this vulnerability to compromise certificate management systems, potentially leading to widespread certificate trust violations and undermining the integrity of their entire PKI infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as ZDI-CAN-15449 indicates it was recognized by the Zero Day Initiative and has been subject to coordinated disclosure practices that highlight its severity and potential impact on enterprise security.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying available vendor patches, restricting network access to the Certificate Management Server service, implementing additional authentication layers, and monitoring for suspicious activities related to certificate management operations. Network segmentation and access control policies should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors, while security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their certificate management infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and secure deserialization practices in enterprise security systems, particularly those handling sensitive cryptographic operations and certificate management functions.