CVE-2022-1040Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via crafted login mode

Published Mar 25, 2022 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Authentication bypass in Sophos Firewall 18.5 MR3 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through User Portal or Webadmin requests. The webconsole Controller accepts a crafted login JSON object containing a NUL-suffixed mode key, then redirects the request to the administrative interface despite invalid credentials. Exposure requires either portal on a reachable interface; successful requests establish unauthorized management access and permit code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability99.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Sophos Firewall 18.5 MR3 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through User Portal or Webadmin requests. The webconsole Controller accepts a crafted login JSON object containing a NUL-suffixed mode key, then redirects the request to the administrative interface despite invalid credentials. Exposure requires either portal on a reachable interface; successful requests establish unauthorized management access and permit code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-1040
Published
Mar 25, 2022
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Sophos
Product
Sophos Firewall
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 25, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=18.5 MR3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Sophos · Sophos Firewallversion=unspecified <=18.5 MR3

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8Sophos LimitedCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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