Root code execution via arbitrary NGINX modules
Published Sep 26, 2022 · Updated May 21, 2025
Privilege escalation in Zimbra Collaboration 8.8.x and 9.x allows local users with zimbra access to execute arbitrary code as root. The sudo policy lets the zimbra account start NGINX as root with arbitrary parameters, so a user-supplied configuration can load attacker-controlled shared-object modules with root privileges. Exploitation requires prior access as the low-privileged zimbra OS account and grants complete control of the Linux server.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Zimbra Collaboration 8.8.x and 9.x allows local users with zimbra access to execute arbitrary code as root. The sudo policy lets the zimbra account start NGINX as root with arbitrary parameters, so a user-supplied configuration can load attacker-controlled shared-object modules with root privileges. Exploitation requires prior access as the low-privileged zimbra OS account and grants complete control of the Linux server.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-41347
- Published
- Sep 26, 2022
- Updated
- May 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 26, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 17, 2022Exploitation reportedZimbra server compromise using NGINX sudo escalation
- May 21, 2025Record 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?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- zimbra-hinginxfunctional · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Zimbra server compromise using NGINX sudo escalationreported exploitation
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