CVE-2016-9565 in Nagios
Summary
by MITRE
MagpieRSS, as used in the front-end component in Nagios Core before 4.2.2 might allow remote attackers to read or write to arbitrary files by spoofing a crafted response from the Nagios RSS feed server. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-4796.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9565 affects MagpieRSS, a front-end component utilized in Nagios Core versions prior to 4.2.2. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized file operations through manipulation of RSS feed responses. The vulnerability stems from an insufficient resolution of a previously identified issue, CVE-2008-4796, which demonstrates the persistence of security gaps when remediation efforts are incomplete or inadequate.
MagpieRSS functions as an RSS feed parser within Nagios Core's monitoring framework, responsible for retrieving and processing data from RSS sources to provide status updates and notifications. The core technical flaw occurs when the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the responses received from RSS feed servers, allowing attackers to craft malicious responses that appear legitimate to the vulnerable system. This spoofing capability enables adversaries to manipulate the feed parser into accessing arbitrary files on the system, potentially leading to unauthorized read or write operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a pathway for attackers to compromise the integrity of the monitoring infrastructure. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially read sensitive configuration files, system information, or other critical data stored on the Nagios server. The write capability further amplifies the threat, as it could enable attackers to modify system files, inject malicious code, or alter monitoring configurations to disable security alerts. This represents a critical compromise of the system's security posture since Nagios serves as a central monitoring point for network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. Additionally, this weakness can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves command and control communications through various protocols including web services. Organizations using affected Nagios Core versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their monitoring systems, potentially leading to complete compromise of their network visibility and security monitoring capabilities.
The remediation strategy requires immediate upgrading to Nagios Core version 4.2.2 or later, which contains the proper fix for this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the Nagios server to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include monitoring RSS feed traffic for suspicious patterns and implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that similar issues do not persist in other components of the monitoring infrastructure.