Critical Vulnerabilities in Ivanti EPMM Allow Remote Code Execution
SANS Institute has issued an alert regarding two critical vulnerabilities discovered in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM), a unified endpoint management solution designed to manage and secure mobile devices, tablets, and desktops from a central console. The severity of the issue is heightened by the fact that these vulnerabilities are already being actively exploited, enabling attackers to execute code remotely without authentication.
The vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2026-1281 and CVE-2026-1340, represent a significant threat. The core issue, explained simply, is that compromising the central management panel for mobile devices effectively provides an attacker with a remote control capable of altering configurations and bypassing security measures.
The impact extends beyond individual devices. Ivanti EPMM plays a crucial role in determining what software is installed, which certificates are trusted, which emails are delivered, and what policies restrict device functionality. A successful attack allows malicious actors to push harmful profiles or disable security controls en masse, eliminating the need to compromise individual devices one by one. This centralized control makes EPMM a particularly attractive target.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added at least one of these vulnerabilities to its catalog of exploited vulnerabilities, a designation that typically indicates active and widespread exploitation in the wild.
Compromising an Ivanti EPMM instance is particularly dangerous because corporate mobile devices often serve as keys to sensitive resources like passwords, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and multi-factor authentication systems. This means a successful attack can provide a pathway to other systems within an organization, significantly expanding the scope of the breach.
China-Linked Threat Actor Exploiting Ivanti Vulnerability
Adding to the urgency, reports indicate a China-nexus threat actor is actively exploiting a related vulnerability in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile, specifically CVE-2025-4428. This suggests a targeted campaign leveraging weaknesses in Ivanti’s products, and highlights the potential for sophisticated attacks.
Multiple Unpatched Vulnerabilities
The situation is further complicated by the discovery of 13 additional unpatched vulnerabilities in Ivanti Endpoint Manager by Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). While not all of these may be actively exploited, they represent potential attack vectors that organizations must address.
Mitigation and Remediation
The recommended response to these vulnerabilities is straightforward, though often challenging to implement quickly: apply available security patches, limit exposure to the internet, review administrative access controls, and monitor logs for suspicious activity. Rotating credentials and keys for servers that may have been exposed is also crucial, as is verifying that no unauthorized profiles or applications have been pushed to managed devices.
Organizations should also consider a thorough security audit to identify any potential indicators of compromise. This includes examining device configurations, network traffic, and user activity for anomalies. Security relies not only on antivirus software but also on the integrity of management tools, and failures in these tools can expose an entire fleet of devices.
The recent vulnerabilities affecting Ivanti EPMM underscore the increasing complexity of endpoint security. As organizations rely more heavily on mobile devices and unified endpoint management solutions, the risk of a centralized compromise grows. Proactive security measures, including timely patching, robust access controls, and continuous monitoring, are essential to mitigate these risks.
The responsibility for addressing these vulnerabilities ultimately falls on both Ivanti, to provide timely patches, and organizations, to implement those patches and maintain a strong security posture.
