CVE-2022-37042
About
Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) 8.8.15 and 9.0 has mboximport functionality that receives a ZIP archive and extracts files from it. By bypassing authentication (i.e., not having an authtoken), an attacker can upload arbitrary files to the system, leading to directory traversal and remote code execution. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2022-27925.
Rainforest analyst review
Zimbra's mboximport feature accepts a ZIP archive over HTTP and extracts the files it contains. Because authentication can be bypassed — the endpoint can be reached without a valid authtoken — an unauthenticated attacker can upload an archive whose entries use directory traversal to escape the extraction path and write a JSP web shell anywhere on disk. Requesting that shell then gives code execution on the mail server. It exists because the earlier fix for CVE-2022-27925 was incomplete, leaving the auth-bypass path open.
A mail server holds the organization's correspondence, credentials, and the reset links to everything else, which is why Zimbra has been a repeated mass-exploitation target. This flaw was weaponized in the wild against thousands of internet-facing ZCS servers in 2022, often to drop web shells for persistent access. Patching is necessary but not sufficient: the exploitation window predates the fix, so hunt the web-accessible directories for planted JSP shells and review for unauthorized mailbox access rather than only closing the hole.
References
Related CVEs
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2022-37042?
Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) 8.8.15 and 9.0 has mboximport functionality that receives a ZIP archive and extracts files from it. By bypassing authentication (i.e., not having an authtoken), an attacker can upload arbitrary files to the system, leading to directory traversal and remote code execution. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2022-27925.
How severe is CVE-2022-37042?
CVE-2022-37042 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated critical. On the Rainforest Risk Index — which weighs the severity alongside how easy the flaw is to reach and how broad its impact is — it scores 99 out of 100, in the critical band.
How is CVE-2022-37042 exploited?
According to the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H): attack vector Network, attack complexity Low, privileges required None, user interaction None. Impact on confidentiality High, integrity High and availability High.
Which products are affected by CVE-2022-37042?
Public advisories list the following as affected: zimbra collaboration suite. Check the references on this page for the exact versions each vendor confirms.
How do I fix CVE-2022-37042?
Apply the fix the vendor published — the references on this page link to the primary advisories and patches. When patching can't happen right away, reduce the exposure of the affected component and watch it for exploitation attempts. Rainforest customers see this vulnerability correlated to their own assets and prioritized by real exposure, not by score alone.
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