Authenticated root execution via XML tag-case validation mismatch
Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026
Validation bypass in Wazuh manager before 4.14.8 allows remote authenticated users to execute root commands via uploaded ossec.conf. The check_remote_commands validator preserves XML tag case, while wazuh-logcollector recognizes the same tags case-insensitively, allowing command blocks to evade the remote-command restriction. Exploitation requires manager:update_config and a subsequent reload; manager:restart permits the caller to trigger root execution on the manager host without a cluster key.
Summary
What happened
Validation bypass in Wazuh manager before 4.14.8 allows remote authenticated users to execute root commands via uploaded ossec.conf. The check_remote_commands validator preserves XML tag case, while wazuh-logcollector recognizes the same tags case-insensitively, allowing command blocks to evade the remote-command restriction. Exploitation requires manager:update_config and a subsequent reload; manager:restart permits the caller to trigger root execution on the manager host without a cluster key.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74041
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Wazuh
- Product
- Wazuh manager
- Classifications
- CWE-178, CWE-436, T1068
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 13, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=4.14.3 <4.14.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- poc_dapi.pyproof of concept · demonstrated
- poc_rest.pyproof of concept · demonstrated
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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