US CISA warns of actively exploited Ivanti EPMM flaw CVE-2023

Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM, previously branded MobileIron Core) contains an authentication bypass (CWE-287) that allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to access specific API paths on a vulnerable server. Because these endpoints require no credentials, any attacker who can reach the server can invoke them directly. Through these paths an attacker can read PII such as user names, phone numbers, and mobile device details, and can also make configuration changes, including installing software and modifying security profiles on enrolled devices, giving attackers a lever into the managed mobile fleet. Organizations running EPMM, typically enterprises and government agencies using it for mobile device management, are affected; exact affected version ranges should be taken from Ivanti's advisory. The flaw is actively exploited: it was added to CISA's KEV on 2023-07-25 with known ransomware use, EPSS is ~100%, while no public PoC or CVSS score is yet available.

Do: Apply Ivanti's patched EPMM releases per the vendor's instructions immediately, as patching or discontinuing use is the CISA KEV required action. Hunt for unauthenticated requests to the affected API paths, and review enrolled devices for unexpected software installs or modified security profiles, since ransomware operators are known to have used this flaw. Verify internet-exposed EPMM servers are prioritized for remediation and that managed-device configurations have not been tampered with.

Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) and its predecessor MobileIron Core contain an improper authentication flaw (CWE-287) that allows an unauthorized user to bypass authentication and access restricted functionality or resources of the application. It is triggered by sending unauthenticated requests to the affected appliance, with no valid credentials or user interaction required. A successful attacker gains access to protected MDM functionality and resources on the server, which has been leveraged in broader intrusions, including ransomware operations. Any organization running EPMM or MobileIron Core, particularly with the management interface exposed to the internet, is affected. The flaw was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-01-18 with known ransomware use, and EPSS assigns it a ~100% probability of exploitation within 30 days (100th percentile).

Do: Apply Ivanti's patched releases immediately per the vendor advisory, or discontinue use if mitigations are unavailable, as required by CISA's KEV listing. Because the flaw has known ransomware use, review EPMM/MobileIron Core logs for unauthenticated access to restricted functionality and hunt for signs of follow-on compromise. Prioritize patching internet-facing instances and limit exposure of the management interface until updates are applied.