On February 9, 2026, Shadowserver scans detected over 28,300 unique IP addresses attempting to exploit CVE-2026-1281, a critical pre-authentication vulnerability in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM).
With a CVSS score of 9.8, this flaw allows attackers to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution, providing full control over enterprise mobile management infrastructure. For IT security teams, this incident highlights how quickly a zero-day vulnerability can be weaponized at scale, affecting tens of thousands of devices globally.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- The technical details of CVE-2026-1281
- Observed attack patterns and infrastructure
- Geographic distribution of attacks
- Mitigation steps and security best practices for enterprise mobile environments
Understanding CVE-2026-1281
Vulnerability Details
- Type: Pre-authentication code injection
- CVSS Score: 9.8 (Critical)
- Affected Component: Bash handler at
/mifs/c/appstore/fob/ - Impact: Remote code execution as the web server user
- Root Cause: Improper input sanitization in URL parameters
Attackers can craft malicious payloads that are executed without authentication, giving them the ability to deploy further malware, establish persistence, or move laterally within corporate networks.
Real-World Attack Scale
Shadowserver scans revealed 28,300+ unique source IPs attempting exploitation, making it one of the largest coordinated attacks against enterprise mobile management systems this year.
Geographic distribution of attacks:
| Country | Source IPs | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 20,400 | 72% |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 13% |
| Russia | 1,900 | 6% |
| Other (Iraq, Spain, Poland, France, Italy, Germany, Ukraine) | 2,200 | 9% |
This shows both high concentration in certain regions and global opportunistic targeting of vulnerable systems.
Coordinated Attack Campaign
Researchers from GreyNoise and Defused identified advanced tactics in this exploitation wave:
- Initial Access Brokers: Deploying dormant “sleeper” webshells on compromised EPMM instances
- High Coordination: Over 80% of activity traced to a single IP behind bulletproof hosting
- Delayed Activation: Webshells remain dormant until specific follow-on operations, differing from opportunistic attacks
Because EPMM manages mobile devices, apps, and content across enterprises, attackers gaining access can:
- Deploy malicious payloads to managed devices
- Move laterally within corporate networks
- Exfiltrate sensitive enterprise data
Official Response and Patch Information
- Ivanti Disclosure: January 29, 2026, alongside CVE-2026-1340
- CISA Action: Added CVE-2026-1281 to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a three-day remediation deadline
- Temporary Fix: RPM patches released for affected versions
- Permanent Fix: Scheduled for version 12.8.0.0 in Q1 2026
Shadowserver Foundation provides threat intelligence via honeypot HTTP scanner events for organizations to identify and block malicious source IPs.
Recommended Defense and Mitigation
Patch Management
- Apply temporary RPM patches immediately
- Upgrade to Ivanti EPMM 12.8.0.0 once available
- Enforce patch verification across all mobile endpoints
Threat Detection
- Monitor
/mifs/c/appstore/fob/for suspicious requests or webshell artifacts - Review EPMM access logs for unusual activity
- Correlate logs with known malicious IPs from Shadowserver feeds
Network Security
- Restrict unnecessary external access to EPMM endpoints
- Apply firewall and WAF rules to detect injection attempts
- Segment mobile management infrastructure to reduce lateral movement risk
Incident Response
- Immediately isolate compromised EPMM instances
- Conduct forensic analysis on affected mobile devices
- Validate enterprise mobile policies and device integrity
Expert Insights
Key Takeaways:
- Pre-authentication vulnerabilities in enterprise mobile management tools are highly attractive targets for large-scale attacks.
- Coordinated campaigns using sleeper webshells can maintain long-term persistence across enterprise infrastructure.
- Rapid detection, patch deployment, and threat intelligence integration are essential to minimize impact.
Strategic Recommendation: Organizations managing Ivanti EPMM must implement continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and real-time threat intelligence feeds to stay ahead of emerging zero-day exploits.
FAQs
What is CVE-2026-1281?
A critical pre-authentication code injection vulnerability in Ivanti EPMM that allows unauthenticated remote code execution.
How widespread is the attack?
Over 28,300 unique IPs attempted exploitation, primarily from the United States, UK, and Russia.
What makes this attack highly coordinated?
Attackers deploy “sleeper” webshells and use bulletproof hosting, enabling delayed activation for follow-on exploitation.
How can organizations defend against it?
Apply available patches immediately, monitor logs for suspicious activity, and leverage threat intelligence feeds to block malicious IPs.
When will a permanent fix be available?
Ivanti plans to release a permanent patch in version 12.8.0.0 in Q1 2026.
Conclusion
The CVE-2026-1281 exploitation wave underscores the critical need for rapid patching, real-time monitoring, and coordinated threat intelligence.
Organizations managing Ivanti EPMM should act immediately to mitigate risks, secure mobile endpoints, and prevent persistent access by threat actors.
Next Step: Apply available patches, review access logs, and integrate Shadowserver threat intelligence to proactively defend against ongoing exploitation attempts.
