Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2022-28219 is a critical-severity Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (CWE-611) vulnerability in Zohocorp Manageengine Adaudit Plus. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
Cewolf, a charting component bundled in Zoho ManageEngine ADAudit Plus versions prior to 7060, contains an unauthenticated XML External Entity vulnerability (CWE-611) that can be triggered over the network. The flaw carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 and permits remote code execution with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
An attacker with no credentials can submit a crafted XML payload to the affected Cewolf endpoint, causing the server to process external entities and ultimately execute arbitrary code on the underlying host.
Vendor guidance and public advisories direct administrators to upgrade ADAudit Plus to release 7060 or later; the same references also document the availability of a targeted patch that removes the vulnerable Cewolf configuration.
The CVE maintains a very high EPSS score, currently 0.9420 with a recorded peak of 0.9723, indicating sustained exploitation interest after disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-32673
Vulnerability Data
Cewolf in Zoho ManageEngine ADAudit Plus before 7060 is vulnerable to an unauthenticated XXE attack that leads to Remote Code Execution.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI
Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires validation of XML input to block the crafted external-entity payloads that trigger the unauthenticated XXE.
Enforces authentication and authorization checks on the Cewolf endpoint so that unauthenticated attackers cannot reach the vulnerable parser.
Mandates timely application of the vendor patch or upgrade to version 7060 that removes the vulnerable Cewolf configuration.
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.
Hardened XML parser configurations directly disable external entity resolution.
Secure SDLC practices include input validation and safe XML parser configuration that prevent XXE.
Vulnerability scanning can discover XXE flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.
Patching eliminates XXE-vulnerable parser versions but is only one aspect of software maintenance.
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.
Security testing in development catches XXE via static analysis and dynamic XML fuzzing.
Vulnerability management identifies and patches XML libraries with unsafe default entity settings.
Secure development life cycle mandates input validation and entity handling that directly prevents XXE.
Application security requirements explicitly call for disabling external entity processing in XML parsers.
Secure architecture principles include safe parser configuration that mitigates external entity risks.
Secure coding standards require disabling DTDs and external entities in XML processing.