# CVE-2021-44515: Zoho Desktop Central Authentication Bypass

> Attackers can bypass authentication to execute remote code on Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central servers, requiring immediate upgrades.

- **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 10 Dec 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wrwj-r75g-4vx9

## What is CVE-2021-44515?

CVE-2021-44515 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central is vulnerable to authentication bypass, leading to remote code execution on the server, as exploited in the wild in December 2021. For Enterprise builds 10.1.2127.17 and earlier, upgrade to 10.1.2127.18. For Enterprise builds 10.1.2128.0 through 10.1.2137.2, upgrade to 10.1.2137.3. For MSP builds 10.1.2127.17 and earlier, upgrade to 10.1.2127.18. For MSP builds 10.1.2128.0 through 10.1.2137.2, upgrade to 10.1.2137.3.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-44515?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-44515?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-44515 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 24 Dec 2021.

## Is CVE-2021-44515 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-44515 in the wild since at least 10 Dec 2021.

Public exploit code:

- Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central - Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-44515.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2020-10189](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10189/): Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central File Upload (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-7213](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7213/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-9371](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9371/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-15588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15588/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-8540](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8540/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-44515 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-44515 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-44515 in the wild since at least 10 Dec 2021.

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-2021-44515/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44515/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44515
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44515
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-44515

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44515/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.