Cyber Resilience

CVE-2022-26871

Trendmicro Apex Central 2019

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD Exploited
Published
29 March 2022
Modified
22 December 2025
KEV Added
31 March 2022
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.20 97th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2022-26871 is a critical-severity Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity (CWE-345) vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex Central. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Mark-of-the-Web Bypass (T1553.005); ranked in the top 3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2022-26871 is an arbitrary file upload vulnerability affecting Trend Micro Apex Central. The flaw, assigned CWE-345, permits an unauthenticated remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to the server, which can subsequently lead to remote code execution on the affected system. It carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting network-accessible attack vectors with no required authentication or user interaction.

An unauthenticated attacker with network access can exploit the weakness by sending a crafted upload request that bypasses intended validation checks. Successful exploitation grants the ability to place and execute malicious files on the Apex Central server, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Vendor advisories from Trend Micro and coordinated notices from JPCERT and JVN direct administrators to apply the patches referenced in solution articles 000290660 and 000290678, along with the March 2022 security bulletin. These updates address the upload handling logic and are required to eliminate the exposure.

The EPSS score for this CVE rose materially from lower values after disclosure to a peak of 0.6937 on 2024-12-17 before receding to the current 0.2130, indicating that exploitation interest increased well after the initial publication.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in Trend Micro Apex Central could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to upload an arbitrary file which could lead to remote code execution.

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
31 March 2022

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1553.005 Mark-of-the-Web Bypass Defense Impairment
Adversaries may abuse specific file formats to subvert Mark-of-the-Web (MOTW) controls.
T1195 Supply Chain Compromise Initial Access
Adversaries may manipulate products or product delivery mechanisms prior to receipt by a final consumer for the purpose of data or system compromise.
T1195.001 Compromise Software Dependencies and Development Tools Initial Access
Adversaries may manipulate software dependencies and development tools prior to receipt by a final consumer for the purpose of data or system compromise.
T1195.002 Compromise Software Supply Chain Initial Access
Adversaries may manipulate application software prior to receipt by a final consumer for the purpose of data or system compromise.
T1542.002 Component Firmware Stealth
Adversaries may modify component firmware to persist on systems.
T1553 Subvert Trust Controls Defense Impairment
Adversaries may undermine security controls that will either warn users of untrusted activity or prevent execution of untrusted programs.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-54948Same product: Trendmicro Apex Oneboth on KEV
CVE-2026-34926Same product: Trendmicro Apex Oneboth on KEV
CVE-2020-8467Same product: Trendmicro Apex Oneboth on KEV
CVE-2020-8599Same product: Trendmicro Apex Oneboth on KEV
CVE-2020-8468Same product: Trendmicro Apex Oneboth on KEV
CVE-2026-45206Same product: Trendmicro Apex One
CVE-2026-45207Same product: Trendmicro Apex One
CVE-2026-34928Same product: Trendmicro Apex One
CVE-2026-34927Same product: Trendmicro Apex One
CVE-2026-34929Same product: Trendmicro Apex One

Affected Assets

trendmicro
apex central
2019
trendmicro
apex one
all versions

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 8 hardening rules · 5 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V3.5.5

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-345

Directly requires independent verification of matching output before adverse decisions, mitigating insufficient authenticity checks on data from external sources.

addresses: CWE-345

Use of approved PKI certificates provides verifiable data authenticity and origin for communications and artifacts.

addresses: CWE-345

Mandates provision of authenticity and integrity artifacts that enable verification of name/address resolution data.

addresses: CWE-345

Requires explicit verification of data authenticity from authoritative sources, preventing acceptance of unauthenticated resolution responses.

addresses: CWE-345

Control requires verification of data authenticity/integrity (e.g., checksums) after aggregation/packing, directly reducing exploitation of insufficient verification before transmission.

addresses: CWE-345

Time synchronization supports reliable freshness verification when checking data authenticity across systems or components.

addresses: CWE-345

Mandates verification of data authenticity for software, firmware, and information.

addresses: CWE-345

Provenance documentation and monitoring directly enables verification of authenticity for components and data throughout their history.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

RC.RP-05 mostly match
degrades

CWE-345 directly impairs RC.RP-05's verification of restored-asset integrity/authenticity, largely defeating the outcome while still leaving other restoration-confirmation steps partially viable.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing can detect missing or weak data authenticity verification.

mitigates

Network controls can enforce authenticated channels, reducing risk of accepting unauthentic data.

mitigates

Secure network services often include authenticity checks for data exchanged over those services.

prevents

Cryptographic mechanisms directly verify data origin and integrity, preventing acceptance of unauthentic data.

prevents

Secure SDLC incorporates authenticity verification requirements throughout development.

prevents

Application security requirements can mandate data authenticity verification mechanisms.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (2 rules)
  • V-248574 YUM must be configured to prevent the installation of patches, service packs, device drivers, or OL 8 system components that have not been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
  • V-248575 OL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
  • V-271525 OL 9 must have GPG signature verification enabled for all software repositories. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 7 (2 rules)
  • V-204447 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components from a repository without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
  • V-204448 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 8 (2 rules)
  • V-230264 RHEL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components from a repository without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
  • V-230265 RHEL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
  • V-257822 RHEL 9 must have GPG signature verification enabled for all software repositories. prevents CWE-345

References