# CVE-2022-31499: Nortek Linear eMerge E3-Series - RCE

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2022-31499 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2022-31499

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Nortek Linear eMerge E3-Series
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'))

## Description

Nortek Linear eMerge E3-Series devices before 0.32-08f allow an unauthenticated attacker to inject OS commands via ReaderNo. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2019-7256.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2022-31499](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2022-31499) is a critical vulnerability in Nortek Linear eMerge E3-Series devices prior to version 0.32-08f, allowing unauthenticated attackers to inject operating system commands via the ReaderNo parameter. This flaw, stemming from an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability (CVE-2019-7256), could enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to full system compromise.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 5th of August 2025.

CrowdSec network data shows that most actors exploiting CVE-2022-31499 rely on broad, untargeted scans with minimal filtering. The activity is largely automated and opportunistic in nature.
Additionally, according to week-over-week analysis by CrowdSec, exploitation of CVE-2022-31499 is surging. Attack volumes are spiking well above historical norms, indicating widespread and escalating interest from threat actors. CVE-2022-31499 is currently experiencing high visibility and active exploitation across the internet.

Attackers exploit the `ReaderNo` parameter in `/card_scan.php` to inject shell commands, enabling remote code execution on Nortek Linear eMerge E3-Series devices.

## Timeline

- 2022-08-25: CVE Published. CVE-2022-31499 is published to NVD.
- 2025-08-05: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2022-31499 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-08-13: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2022-31499 for the first time.

## References

- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167991/Nortek-Linear-eMerge-E3-Series-Command-Injection.html
- https://gist.github.com/omarhashem123/5f0c6f1394099b555740fdc5c7651ee2
- https://eg.linkedin.com/in/omar-1-hashem
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2022/CVE-2022-31499.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2022-31499) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2022-31499. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.