# ConnectWise ScreenConnect auth bypass mass-exploited · pwn.watch

> ConnectWise ScreenConnect before 23.9.8 had a trivially exploitable authentication bypass (CVE-2024-1709, CVSS 10) and a path traversal (CVE-2024-1708), reported to ConnectWise on 2024-02-19. Attackers could create an admin account on self-hosted servers and then push code to every managed endpoint. Exploitation began within days, including by ransomware groups. Cloud instances were patched by ConnectWise; on-premise servers had to update to 23.9.8. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2024-02-22. CISA lists known use in ransomware campaigns.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709 · generated 2026-10-22T20:45:43.249Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: ConnectWise ScreenConnect
- Started: 2024-02-19 · closed: 2024-02-22
- CVEs: CVE-2024-1709, CVE-2024-1708
- Affected: ScreenConnect 23.9.7 and earlier (ConnectWise bulletin)
- Fixed in: 23.9.8 (ConnectWise bulletin)

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2024-02-22: CISA added CVE-2024-1709 to the KEV catalog (federal deadline 2024-02-29) (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog)
- 2024-02-22: ConnectWise urges on-premise partners to update to 23.9.8 immediately (https://www.connectwise.com/company/trust/security-bulletins/connectwise-screenconnect-23.9.8)
- 2024-02-21: CVE-2024-1709 published (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1709)
- 2024-02-21: CVE-2024-1708 published (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1708)
- 2024-02-19: Both vulnerabilities reported to ConnectWise; cloud instances remediated (https://www.connectwise.com/company/trust/security-bulletins/connectwise-screenconnect-23.9.8)

## Fix brief
# Security brief: ConnectWise ScreenConnect auth bypass mass-exploited

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709 · status: closed (closed Feb 22, 2024) · severity: critical · updated Feb 22, 2024

## Patch status
**PATCHED: fixed releases exist. Upgrade to a fixed version.**

## What it is
ConnectWise ScreenConnect before 23.9.8 had a trivially exploitable authentication bypass (CVE-2024-1709, CVSS 10) and a path traversal (CVE-2024-1708), reported to ConnectWise on 2024-02-19. Attackers could create an admin account on self-hosted servers and then push code to every managed endpoint. Exploitation began within days, including by ransomware groups. Cloud instances were patched by ConnectWise; on-premise servers had to update to 23.9.8. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2024-02-22. CISA lists known use in ransomware campaigns.

Severity detail: CVSS 10 (v3.1, CNA), actively exploited (CISA KEV); known ransomware use

- Product: ConnectWise ScreenConnect
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2024-1709, CVE-2024-1708

## Affected versions
- ScreenConnect 23.9.7 and earlier (ConnectWise bulletin)

## Check whether you're affected
No generic command applies (the product is a hosted service, appliance or desktop app). Check the installed version in its admin UI / About screen and compare with the versions above.

## Fix
Upgrade to one of these fixed versions (or later on the same branch):
- 23.9.8 (ConnectWise bulletin)

After upgrading, re-run the checks above and redeploy/restart the affected services.

## Latest updates
- Feb 22, 2024: CISA added CVE-2024-1709 to the KEV catalog (federal deadline 2024-02-29)
- Feb 22, 2024: ConnectWise urges on-premise partners to update to 23.9.8 immediately
- Feb 21, 2024: CVE-2024-1709 published
- Feb 21, 2024: CVE-2024-1708 published
- Feb 19, 2024: Both vulnerabilities reported to ConnectWise; cloud instances remediated

## Advisories
- [ConnectWise ScreenConnect 23.9.8 security bulletin](https://www.connectwise.com/company/trust/security-bulletins/connectwise-screenconnect-23.9.8) (ConnectWise)
- [NVD: CVE-2024-1709](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1709) (NVD)
- [NVD: CVE-2024-1708](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1708) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

## Caveats
Derived from the CISA KEV JSON feed (catalogVersion 2026.10.21); CVSS from the CVE record (cveawg.mitre.org). startedAt is the CVE publication date when it fell in 2024 before the KEV listing, else the KEV dateAdded; exploitation may have begun earlier. closedAt is the KEV listing date (a fix or mitigation was available then unless noted).

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Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/connectwise-screenconnect-auth-bypass-cve-2024-1709.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.