CVE-2022-43440

Root code execution via site-controlled unixcat replacement

Published Feb 9, 2023 · Updated Mar 24, 2025

Privilege escalation in Checkmk before 2.1.0p1, 2.0.0p25, and 1.6.0p29 allows local users with site access to execute code as root. The agent resolves unixcat through the writable site bin path and runs the replacement as root instead of calling the shipped binary under /omd/versions. Local users must already control a Checkmk site account and replace its bin/unixcat executable; successful exploitation grants root-level code execution.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Checkmk before 2.1.0p1, 2.0.0p25, and 1.6.0p29 allows local users with site access to execute code as root. The agent resolves unixcat through the writable site bin path and runs the replacement as root instead of calling the shipped binary under /omd/versions. Local users must already control a Checkmk site account and replace its bin/unixcat executable; successful exploitation grants root-level code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-43440
Published
Feb 9, 2023
Updated
Mar 24, 2025
Vendor
Checkmk GmbH
Product
Checkmk
Classifications
CWE-427, CAPEC-471, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.6.0 <1.6.0p29
  2. Affected versionversion=2.0.0 <2.0.0p25
  3. Affected versionversion=2.1.0 <2.1.0p1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Checkmk GmbH · Checkmkversion=1.6.0 <1.6.0p29; version=2.0.0 <2.0.0p25; version=2.1.0 <2.1.0p1

Published CVSS scores

8.8Checkmk GmbHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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 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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CAPEC-471Search Order Hijacking
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

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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