# CVE-2022-42948: Fortra Cobalt Strike User Interface Remote Code Execution

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code in the Cobalt Strike operator interface by injecting malicious HTML into Swing components.

- **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 30 Mar 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c8qh-hq9w-qh3p

## What is CVE-2022-42948?

CVE-2022-42948 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 24 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Cobalt Strike 4.7.1 fails to properly escape HTML tags when they are displayed on Swing components. By injecting crafted HTML code, it is possible to remotely execute code in the Cobalt Strike UI.

Weakness: CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-42948?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Helpsystems Cobalt Strike.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-42948?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-42948 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 20 Apr 2023.

## Is CVE-2022-42948 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-42948 in the wild since at least 30 Mar 2023.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2022-39197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-39197/): Fortra Cobalt Strike Teamserver Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 6.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-23317](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23317/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2021-36798](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36798/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-42948 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-42948 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 24 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2022-42948 in the wild since at least 30 Mar 2023.

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-2022-42948/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-42948/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-42948
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-42948
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-42948

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-42948/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.