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CVE-2026-6516 – Unauthenticated RCE via Agent API – Zoho ManageEngine ADAudit Plus (all builds be…

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Summary

CVE-2026-6516 is a critical unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus, affecting all builds prior to 8606. The flaw resides in the product’s agent API, where an authentication bypass and a path traversal weakness can be chained by a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0 — the maximum possible severity rating.

Technical details

  • Root cause: Two distinct weaknesses in the ADAudit Plus agent API: an authentication bypass flaw and a path traversal vulnerability.
  • Trigger conditions: An unauthenticated attacker reachable over the network can combine the authentication bypass and path traversal to interact with agent API endpoints without any credentials or user interaction.
  • Attack vector: Network-accessible; no privileges or user interaction required (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The ADAudit Plus web interface and agent API are routinely exposed on enterprise networks.
  • Impact: Successful exploitation results in remote code execution on the ADAudit Plus server. Given the product’s privileged role in Active Directory environments — continuously collecting and auditing domain controller events — a compromise can lead to Active Directory takeover and mass credential and event-log data exfiltration.

Affected software

  • Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus — all builds prior to build 8606

Severity

  • CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 10.0 (Critical)
  • Vector String: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: Update ManageEngine ADAudit Plus to build 8606 or later using the vendor-provided service pack.
  • Agent updates required after patching: Windows agents running versions earlier than 7060 must also be upgraded (verify via Configuration → Agent Management → Manage → Installed Version). All Mac agents must be upgraded to the latest available version regardless of their current installed version.
  • No temporary workarounds are documented in the vendor advisory. Applying the build 8606 update is the only recommended remediation.

IONIX Status

The IONIX research team is tracking ongoing exploitation attempts and recommends immediate patching. Potentially affected assets are outlined in this post.

References

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