# CVE-2018-20753: Kaseya VSA Remote Code Execution

> Unprivileged attackers can execute PowerShell payloads on all managed devices via the Kaseya VSA RMM server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 13 Apr 2022 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Feb 2019
- **Updated:** 13 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hhg2-f289-m44w

## What is CVE-2018-20753?

CVE-2018-20753 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Feb 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Kaseya VSA RMM before R9.3 9.3.0.35, R9.4 before 9.4.0.36, and R9.5 before 9.5.0.5 allows unprivileged remote attackers to execute PowerShell payloads on all managed devices. In January 2018, attackers actively exploited this vulnerability in the wild.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-20753?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Kaseya Virtual System Administrator.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-20753?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-20753 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 4 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2018-20753 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-20753 in the wild since at least 13 Apr 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2015-6922](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-6922/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2015-6589](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-6589/): Path traversal in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-15506](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15506/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2017-12410](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12410/): Race condition in n/a (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2015-2863](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2863/): Open redirect in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-20753 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-20753 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Feb 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-20753 in the wild since at least 13 Apr 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20753/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20753/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20753
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20753
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-20753

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20753/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.