ConnectWise ScreenConnect Authentication Bypass

name: ConnectWise ScreenConnect Authentication Bypass
id: d3f7a803-e802-448b-8eb2-e796b223bfff
version: 9
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
data_source:
    - Suricata
type: TTP
status: production
description: The following analytic detects attempts to exploit the ConnectWise ScreenConnect CVE-2024-1709 vulnerability, which allows attackers to bypass authentication via an alternate path or channel. It leverages web request logs to identify access to the SetupWizard.aspx page, indicating potential exploitation. This activity is significant as it can lead to unauthorized administrative access and remote code execution. If confirmed malicious, attackers could create administrative users and gain full control over the affected system, posing severe security risks. Immediate remediation by updating to version 23.9.8 or above is recommended.
search: |-
    | tstats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Web
      WHERE Web.url IN ("*/SetupWizard.aspx/*","*/SetupWizard/") Web.status=200 Web.http_method=POST
      BY Web.src, Web.dest, Web.http_user_agent,
         Web.url, Web.status, Web.http_method,
         sourcetype, source
    | rex field=Web.url "/SetupWizard.aspx/(?<randomPath>.+)"
    | `drop_dm_object_name("Web")`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `connectwise_screenconnect_authentication_bypass_filter`
how_to_implement: To implement this analytic, ensure proper logging is occurring with IIS, Apache, or a Proxy server and that these logs are being ingested into Splunk. The analytic was written against Suricata. The proper TA will need to be enabled and should be mapped to CIM and the Web datamodel. Ingestion of the data source is required to utilize this detection. In addition, if it is not mapped to the datamodel, modify the query for your application logs to look for requests the same URI and investigate further.
known_false_positives: False positives are not expected, as the detection is based on the presence of web requests to the SetupWizard.aspx page, which is not a common page to be accessed by legitimate users. Note that the analytic is limited to HTTP POST and a status of 200 to reduce false positives. Modify the query as needed to reduce false positives or hunt for additional indicators of compromise.
references:
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/a-catastrophe-for-control-understanding-the-screenconnect-authentication-bypass
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/detection-guidance-for-connectwise-cwe-288-2
    - https://www.connectwise.com/company/trust/security-bulletins/connectwise-screenconnect-23.9.8
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: An authentication bypass attempt against ScreenConnect has been detected on $dest$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - ConnectWise ScreenConnect Vulnerabilities
        - Seashell Blizzard
    asset_type: Web Server
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1190
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: network
    cve:
        - CVE-2024-1708
        - CVE-2024-1709
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1190/screenconnect/connectwise_auth_suricata.log
          sourcetype: suricata
          source: not_applicable