CVE-2020-28901Public exploit

Apache-to-Nagios privilege escalation via component_dir injection

Published May 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allows attackers controlling the Apache context to execute commands as Nagios. The cmd_subsys.php command processor inserts the component_dir value into a shell command without neutralizing shell metacharacters during component installation. Exploitation requires control of the Apache service context and a corrupt component installation; chained access can execute code as root.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability9.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Command injection in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allows attackers controlling the Apache context to execute commands as Nagios. The cmd_subsys.php command processor inserts the component_dir value into a shell command without neutralizing shell metacharacters during component installation. Exploitation requires control of the Apache service context and a corrupt component installation; chained access can execute code as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28901
Published
May 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059.004, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

  • SoyGunweaponized · demonstrated

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo