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Findings

Vulnerability · CVE-2021-44515

Zoho Desktop Central Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Published Dec 10, 2021 · corrected/updated Jun 16, 2026 · Zoho Desktop Central · evidence confidence very high

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.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2021-44515 is a critical public vulnerability record for Zoho Desktop Central. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether Zoho Desktop Central is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: zohocorp/manageengine desktop central; Zoho Desktop Central. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 9.8, EPSS 99.9%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Confirmed in CISA KEV since Dec 10, 2021. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.

  • Patch and remediation

    Apply updates per vendor instructions. CISA due date Dec 24, 2021.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Dec 10, 2021 · Catalog

    Detected

    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

  2. Dec 10, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Dec 24, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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

Affected

  • cpe zohocorp/manageengine desktop centralversion unspecified
  • vendor Zoho Desktop Centralversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-44515

    Zoho Desktop Central contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the Desktop Central MSP server.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2021-44515

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2021-44515

    30-day exploitation probability 99.9%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2021-44515

    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

    nvd.nist.gov
  • VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-44515

    Zoho Desktop Central contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the Desktop Central MSP server.

    vulncheck.com

References