Ivanti Connect Secure: 2 flaws used in attacks; attackers can get in without a password
OFFICIAL NAMES: Ivanti Connect Secure Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability · Ivanti Connect Secure Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers Vulnerability
WHAT IT IS · VPN, FIREWALL OR GATEWAYIt sits at the edge of your network and faces the internet, so attackers can reach it directly.
DO THIS FIRSTIf you have it, patch it today. If you cannot, block access to it from the internet until you can. Not sure if you use it? Send this page to your IT provider or security lead and ask.
TECHNICAL SUMMARY Ivanti Connect Secure contains a missing authentication for critical function vulnerability that could allow a local authenticated attacker to escalate their privileges. This vulnerability can be chained with CVE-2026-104935 and CVE-2026-118527.
WHY THIS VERDICT Attacks are confirmed. The vulnerability is 7 days old, so many systems are likely still unpatched. It affects a product that faces the internet or gives remote access.
WHY IT RANKS HERE Exploitation is confirmed by an authoritative source. The product faces the internet or gives remote access. The confirmation is 12 days old.
- HIGHEST CONFIRMED RUNG
- EXPLOITED
- CISA KEV
- LISTED
- EXPLOIT CODE
- NONE KNOWN
How far has it climbed?
01 TALK
■ CONFIRMEDNEWEST EVIDENCE · 4 INDEPENDENT SOURCESCVE-2026-118527 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting). CVE-2026-118527 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting).
- SRC: CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: CVE-2026-118527 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting) · NOV 8
- SRC: CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: CVE-2026-111357 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting) · NOV 5
- SRC: Help Net Security: CISA to federal agencies: Remediate exploited Ivanti Connect Secure vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-111357, CVE-2026-118527) · NOV 2
- SRC: SecurityWeek: Ivanti Patches Two More Zero-Days Exploited in Connect Secure Attack Chain · NOV 1
02 EXPOSED
□ NOT TRACKED YETNO SOURCE FOR THIS STEP YETWe have no source that counts exposed systems yet. Internet scan data needs a partnership we do not have. No evidence here does not mean nothing is exposed.
03 TRIED
■ CONFIRMEDNEWEST EVIDENCE · 3 INDEPENDENT SOURCESAttacks that worked are confirmed (step 4), so attempts count as confirmed too.
- SRC: CVE List V5 and CISA Vulnrichment: CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-118527 as actively exploited · NOV 3
- SRC: CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: Exploitation of CVE-2026-118527 reported (CIRCL sighting) · NOV 2
- SRC: CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: Exploitation of CVE-2026-111357 reported (CIRCL sighting) · NOV 2
- SRC: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities: Ivanti Connect Secure Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability · OCT 29
04 EXPLOITED
■ CONFIRMEDNEWEST EVIDENCE · 3 INDEPENDENT SOURCESCISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-118527 as actively exploited. Exploitation of CVE-2026-118527 reported (CIRCL sighting).
- SRC: CVE List V5 and CISA Vulnrichment: CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-118527 as actively exploited · NOV 3
- SRC: CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: Exploitation of CVE-2026-118527 reported (CIRCL sighting) · NOV 2
- SRC: CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: Exploitation of CVE-2026-111357 reported (CIRCL sighting) · NOV 2
- SRC: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities: Ivanti Connect Secure Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability · OCT 29
05 DAMAGE
□ NOT TRACKED YETNO SOURCE FOR THIS STEP YETBreach notices and filings rarely name the flaw that was used, so we cannot link them to this event yet. No evidence here does not mean no harm.
When each thing happened
- DISCLOSED
- EXPLOIT CODE PUBLICNOT YET
- FIRST ATTACK REPORT
- CISA KEV LISTING
- US FEDERAL DEADLINE
THE FIX
CISA's instruction: apply the vendor's fix, or stop using the product if no fix exists. The deadline CISA set for US federal agencies, Nov 2, 2026, has passed. It is a US government deadline; use it as a guide.
Questions to ask this week
- Do we run Ivanti Connect Secure? If yes, is it patched or cut off from the internet?
- Who owns fixing it, and by what date?
- Have we checked for signs of attack since the first report, not just since the patch?
How it unfolded
- Attack activity. OCT 15, 2026CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-111357 as actively exploited
- Attack activity. OCT 29, 2026Ivanti Connect Secure Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability
- Attack activity. OCT 29, 2026Ivanti Connect Secure Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers Vulnerability
- OCT 30, 2026CVE-2026-111357 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting) (42 reports, latest NOV 5)
- OCT 30, 2026CVE-2026-118527 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting) (40 reports, latest NOV 8)
- OCT 31, 2026Attackers Chain Three Ivanti Connect Secure Flaws to Gain Unauthenticated Root Access
- NOV 1, 2026Ivanti Patches Two More Zero-Days Exploited in Connect Secure Attack Chain
- Attack activity. NOV 2, 2026Exploitation of CVE-2026-111357 reported (CIRCL sighting) (3 reports)
- Attack activity. NOV 2, 2026Exploitation of CVE-2026-118527 reported (CIRCL sighting) (3 reports)
- NOV 2, 2026CISA to federal agencies: Remediate exploited Ivanti Connect Secure vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-111357, CVE-2026-118527)
- Attack activity. NOV 3, 2026CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-118527 as actively exploited
SOURCES
- [1] CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: CVE-2026-118527 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting), NOV 8
- [2] CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: CVE-2026-111357 discussed publicly (CIRCL sighting), NOV 5
- [3] CVE List V5 and CISA Vulnrichment: CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-118527 as actively exploited, NOV 3
- [4] CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: Exploitation of CVE-2026-118527 reported (CIRCL sighting), NOV 2
- [5] Help Net Security: CISA to federal agencies: Remediate exploited Ivanti Connect Secure vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-111357, CVE-2026-118527), NOV 2
- [6] SecurityWeek: Ivanti Patches Two More Zero-Days Exploited in Connect Secure Attack Chain, NOV 1
- [7] The Hacker News: Attackers Chain Three Ivanti Connect Secure Flaws to Gain Unauthenticated Root Access, OCT 31
- [8] CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities: Ivanti Connect Secure Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability, OCT 29
- [9] CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities: Ivanti Connect Secure Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers Vulnerability, OCT 29
- [10] CVE List V5 and CISA Vulnrichment: CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2026-111357 as actively exploited, OCT 15
- [11] CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup sightings: 82 more reports