CVE-2020-28909Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root command execution via writable sudo script

Published May 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect file permissions in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allow remote authenticated users to execute commands as root. The nagios account can modify change_timezone.sh even though sudo executes that script as root, so inserted shell commands inherit root privileges. Control of the low-privilege nagios account is required, and successful exploitation grants complete root command execution on the Fusion server.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability5.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect file permissions in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allow remote authenticated users to execute commands as root. The nagios account can modify change_timezone.sh even though sudo executes that script as root, so inserted shell commands inherit root privileges. Control of the low-privilege nagios account is required, and successful exploitation grants complete root command execution on the Fusion server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28909
Published
May 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-732, T1548.003
Attack vector
network
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 vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1548.003Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Sudo and Sudo Caching

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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