CVE-2020-28902Public exploit

Apache-to-Nagios escalation via timezone command injection

Published May 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in cmd_subsys.php in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allows local users with apache access to execute commands as nagios. The command subsystem reads an attacker-controlled timezone value from an inserted commands-table row and executes it without neutralizing shell metacharacters. Exploitation requires existing code execution as apache and database write access; the demonstrated step gains nagios privileges, although the CVE record states root.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability6.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in cmd_subsys.php in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allows local users with apache access to execute commands as nagios. The command subsystem reads an attacker-controlled timezone value from an inserted commands-table row and executes it without neutralizing shell metacharacters. Exploitation requires existing code execution as apache and database write access; the demonstrated step gains nagios privileges, although the CVE record states root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28902
Published
May 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1068, T1059.004
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

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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 privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

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

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

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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