Authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel
ConnectWise ScreenConnect 23.9.7 and prior are affected by an Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability, which may allow an attacker direct access to confidential information or critical systems.
- Published
- Feb 21, 2024
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 100.0% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-288
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Report tools
Action score
100
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 40 / 40 · 10.0 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 30 / 30 · 100.0%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 10.0
- CNA · cisa-cg
- 10.0
- agree
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Feb 22, 2024. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for government agencies: Feb 29, 2024.
Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| connectwise | screenconnect | cpe:2.3:a:connectwise:screenconnect |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- connectwise screenconnectbefore 23.9.8
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (cisa-cg). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
ConnectWise ScreenConnect
- up to and including 23.9.7affectedfixed in 23.9.8
Same product
connectwise: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2024-1708Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory (“path traversal”)KEV92Now
- CVE-2026-84869ScreenConnect Client: Guest-to-Host File Execution via File-Transfer ActionsKEV69This week
- CVE-2025-3935ScreenConnect Exposure to ASP.NET ViewState Code InjectionKEV59Plan
- CVE-2026-3564ScreenConnect Instance Level Cryptographic Material Exposure36Monitor
- CVE-2025-14265Improper server-side validation in ScreenConnect extension framework36Monitor
- CVE-2025-14823Certificate Signing Extension Returns Encrypted Values21Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ConnectWise ScreenConnect | 23.9.8 | Vendor (CNA) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Nuclei detection template ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×5
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit module | exploit/multi/http/connectwise_screenconnect_rce_cve_2024_1709ConnectWise ScreenConnect Unauthenticated Remote Code Executionexploit | 2024-02-19 |
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2024-1709 | — |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:113 | 2024-02-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:3 | 2024-02-23 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2024-03-22 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2024-04-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2024-09-12 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-3 d
- First PoC-1 d
- Published
- CISA KEVsame day
- TodaySep 29, 2026+951 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
—
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
- CVE-2024-17080 days apartImproper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory (“path traversal”)KEV92Now
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-288 · Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or ChannelCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/pull/18870
- techcrunch.com/2024/02/21/researchers-warn-high-risk-connectwise-flaw-under-attack-is-embarrassingly-easy-to-exploit/
- www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/connectwise-urges-screenconnect-admins-to-patch-critical-rce-flaw/
- www.connectwise.com/company/trust/security-bulletins/connectwise-screenconnect-23.9.8
- www.horizon3.ai/attack-research/red-team/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-deep-dive/
- www.huntress.com/blog/vulnerability-reproduced-immediately-patch-screenconnect-23-9-8
- www.securityweek.com/connectwise-confirms-screenconnect-flaw-under-active-exploitation/
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-1709
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.