ManageEngine Applications Manager: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
CVE-2026-86708 is a critical-severity use of hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability in ManageEngine Applications Manager from Zoho, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 182300 as the first without the flaw, so updating ManageEngine Applications Manager to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.71% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 86% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update ManageEngine Applications Manager to 182300 or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho | ManageEngine Applications Manager | before 182300 | 182300 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA.
Official description
ZohoCorp ManageEngine Applications Manager versions 182200 and below were vulnerable to exposure of a Google Cloud service-account private key in the Applications Manager installer, which could allow an unauthenticated attacker to impersonate the service account and access or modify associated cloud resources.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
The product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Prevention schemes mirror that of hard-coded password storage.
More Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerabilities (CWE-321)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in ManageEngine Applications Manager
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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