CVE-2010-2236 in spacewalk-java
Summary
by MITRE
The monitoring probe display in spacewalk-java before 2.1.148-1 and Red Hat Network (RHN) Satellite 4.0.0 through 4.2.0 and 5.1.0 through 5.3.0, and Proxy 5.3.0, allows remote authenticated users with permissions to administer monitoring probes to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to backticks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2236 represents a critical security flaw in the monitoring probe display functionality of spacewalk-java and Red Hat Network (RHN) Satellite systems. This issue affects multiple versions of the satellite management platform, specifically targeting releases before 2.1.148-1 for spacewalk-java and various versions of RHN Satellite 4.x and 5.x series. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the monitoring probe display component, creating a path for remote code execution when exploited by authenticated users with specific administrative privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of backtick characters within the monitoring probe display functionality. Backticks are typically used in Unix-like systems for command substitution, where commands enclosed in backticks are executed and their output substituted into the containing command. When the monitoring probe display component fails to properly sanitize or escape these backtick characters, it creates a command injection vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors. This flaw aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in OS Commands, and represents a classic example of command injection in a web application context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it allows authenticated users with monitoring probe administration permissions to execute arbitrary code on the affected systems. This privilege escalation scenario enables attackers to gain full control over the monitoring infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where RHN Satellite is deployed for system management and monitoring, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on these platforms for critical infrastructure management. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, modify system configurations, or deploy malicious payloads across the monitored network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of spacewalk-java and RHN Satellite, specifically versions 2.1.148-1 and later for spacewalk-java, and the corresponding patched versions of RHN Satellite 4.x and 5.x releases. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the number of users with monitoring probe administration permissions. The remediation process should include comprehensive security auditing of all monitoring probe configurations and implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing command injection vulnerabilities in system management platforms. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in enterprise management systems, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter.