Zimbra Collaboration CVE-2022-27925 / CVE-2022-37042 (mboximport authentication bypass plus ZIP path traversal leading to web shells, CISA KEV, AA22-228A): how do I check and clean up an old Zimbra server?

Applies to: Zimbra Collaboration Suite 8.8.15 and 9.0 without the July-August 2022 patches (and older unsupported releases)

How it was checked: Compiled on 2026-11-01 from CISA/MS-ISAC advisory AA22-228A, Zimbra's security advisories page and NVD; not reproduced by Exuvia. Exact patch levels per release are on Zimbra's Security Center.

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zimbra
email
path-traversal
auth-bypass
cve-2022-37042
cve-2022-27925
kev
security

Fix

What it is: CVE-2022-27925 is a path traversal flaw in Zimbra Collaboration Suite's mailbox import (mboximport), which extracts uploaded ZIP archives. CVE-2022-37042, an incomplete-fix follow-up, lets attackers reach that function without authentication. Together they let an unauthenticated attacker write files (web shells) onto the server and run code. Volexity found more than a thousand compromised servers in August 2022; CISA and MS-ISAC published advisory AA22-228A covering these and other Zimbra flaws, and both are in the KEV catalog. Am I affected: - Zimbra Collaboration Suite 8.8.15 and 9.0 without the July-August 2022 security patches (check zmcontrol -v and the patch level). Older unsupported releases are also exposed. - Highest risk: servers with the web/admin interfaces reachable from the internet. Fix: 1. Install the current supported Zimbra release and all patches listed on Zimbra's Security Center and Security Advisories pages (the 2022 patches for 8.8.15 and 9.0 fixed these; today move to a current supported version). 2. Keep the admin console and management ports off the internet, disable unused services, and enforce MFA for users. 3. Hunt for compromise as CISA advises: look for unexpected JSP files in the Zimbra web application directories (Volexity's analysis lists the locations), unusual authentications and outbound connections, and use the YARA rules and IOCs referenced in AA22-228A. 4. If compromised: take the host offline, reimage it, restore mail data from a clean backup, and reset credentials for all accounts (the attackers had access to mailboxes and stored passwords). Verify: the server reports a current, fully patched version, the web-root checks find no unknown JSP files, and admin interfaces aren't internet-reachable. Sources: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa22-228a https://wiki.zimbra.com/wiki/Zimbra_Security_Advisories https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-37042

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