CVE-2020-28904 in Fusion
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2021
Execution with Unnecessary Privileges in Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier allows for Privilege Escalation as nagios via installation of a malicious component containing PHP code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-28904 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Nagios Fusion 4.1.8 and earlier versions that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This issue stems from improper privilege handling during component installation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the Nagios Fusion monitoring platform, which is widely used for network and system monitoring in enterprise environments, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this security infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the installation mechanism of Nagios Fusion where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize components being installed, particularly those containing PHP code. When a malicious component is installed, the system executes the embedded PHP code with the privileges of the nagios user account, which typically possesses elevated permissions within the monitoring environment. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates a direct path for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows attackers to potentially compromise the entire monitoring infrastructure. Once an attacker gains access with nagios privileges, they can manipulate monitoring data, disable security alerts, or establish persistent backdoors within the system. The implications are particularly severe in environments where Nagios Fusion serves as a central monitoring point for critical infrastructure, as the attacker could effectively hide their malicious activities while maintaining long-term access to the network. This vulnerability also poses risks to data integrity and confidentiality, as the attacker can potentially access sensitive monitoring information or manipulate system configurations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of Nagios Fusion where the privilege escalation issue has been addressed. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits of existing installations to identify any potentially compromised components. Additional protective measures include implementing strict component validation procedures, restricting installation privileges to authorized personnel only, and monitoring system logs for suspicious installation activities. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in security-critical applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of installation and update mechanisms in monitoring platforms.