CVE-2020-28900

Root code execution via unverified update package

Published May 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Insufficient update verification in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier and Nagios XI 5.7.5 and earlier allows attackers to execute code as root. The upgrade_to_latest.sh script accepts an untrusted update package without verifying its authenticity before privileged execution. Exploitation requires attacker control of the package presented to the Nagios-run upgrade path; successful execution grants full control of the host.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insufficient update verification in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier and Nagios XI 5.7.5 and earlier allows attackers to execute code as root. The upgrade_to_latest.sh script accepts an untrusted update package without verifying its authenticity before privileged execution. Exploitation requires attacker control of the package presented to the Nagios-run upgrade path; successful execution grants full control of the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28900
Published
May 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-345, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-345Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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