2025-10-30 21:40CVE-2020-36868VulnCheck
PUBLISHED5.2CWE-73CWE-250

Nagios XI < 5.7.3 Privilege escalation via Insecure getprofile.sh Script

Nagios XI versions prior to 5.7.3 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in the getprofile.sh helper script. The script performed profile retrieval and initialization routines using insecure file/command handling and insufficient validation of attacker-controlled inputs, and in some deployments executed with elevated privileges. A local attacker with low-level access could exploit these weaknesses to cause the script to execute arbitrary commands or modify privileged files, resulting in privilege escalation.

Problem type

Affected products

Nagios

XI

< 5.7.3 - AFFECTED

References

JSON source

Click to expand
{
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "cveMetadata": {
    "cveId": "CVE-2020-36868",
    "assignerOrgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
    "assignerShortName": "VulnCheck",
    "dateUpdated": "2025-10-31T13:24:59.886Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-10-30T14:33:17.565Z",
    "datePublished": "2025-10-30T21:40:03.387Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "providerMetadata": {
        "orgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
        "shortName": "VulnCheck",
        "dateUpdated": "2025-10-30T21:40:03.387Z"
      },
      "title": "Nagios XI < 5.7.3 Privilege escalation via Insecure getprofile.sh Script",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Nagios XI versions prior to 5.7.3 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in the getprofile.sh helper script. The script performed profile retrieval and initialization routines using insecure file/command handling and insufficient validation of attacker-controlled inputs, and in some deployments executed with elevated privileges. A local attacker with low-level access could exploit these weaknesses to cause the script to execute arbitrary commands or modify privileged files, resulting in privilege escalation.",
          "supportingMedia": [
            {
              "type": "text/html",
              "base64": false,
              "value": "Nagios XI versions prior to&nbsp;5.7.3&nbsp;contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in the getprofile.sh helper script. The script performed profile retrieval and initialization routines using insecure file/command handling and insufficient validation of attacker-controlled inputs, and in some deployments executed with elevated privileges. A local attacker with low-level access could exploit these weaknesses to cause the script to execute arbitrary commands or modify privileged files, resulting in privilege escalation.<br>"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "vendor": "Nagios",
          "product": "XI",
          "modules": [
            "Installation / helper scripts – scripts/getprofile.sh (profile retrieval/initialization script)"
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "versions": [
            {
              "version": "0",
              "status": "affected",
              "versionType": "semver",
              "lessThan": "5.7.3"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "description": "CWE-73 External Control of File Name or Path",
              "cweId": "CWE-73",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "description": "CWE-250 Execution with Unnecessary Privileges",
              "cweId": "CWE-250",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.nagios.com/changelog/nagios-xi/",
          "tags": [
            "release-notes",
            "patch"
          ]
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nagios-xi-privilege-escalation-via-insecure-getprofile-script",
          "tags": [
            "third-party-advisory"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "impacts": [
        {
          "capecId": "CAPEC-13",
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "CAPEC-13 Subverting Environment Variable Valu"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "format": "CVSS",
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "GENERAL"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "solutions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Nagios addresses this vulnerability as \"Fixed privilege escalation vulnerability in getprofile.sh.\"",
          "supportingMedia": [
            {
              "type": "text/html",
              "base64": false,
              "value": "Nagios addresses this vulnerability as \"Fixed privilege escalation vulnerability in getprofile.sh.\"<br>"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Christian Weiler",
          "type": "finder"
        }
      ]
    },
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP",
          "dateUpdated": "2025-10-31T13:24:59.886Z"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment",
        "metrics": [
          {}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Mitre source

https://cveawg.mitre.org/api/cve/CVE-2020-36868