CVE-2023-7316 in Nagios
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2025
Nagios XI versions prior to 2024R1 are vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) via the Graph Explorer component. Insufficient validation or escaping of user-supplied input may allow an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary script in the context of a victim's browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2025
Nagios XI represents a comprehensive network monitoring and management platform widely deployed across enterprise environments for system observability and alerting. The platform's Graph Explorer component serves as a critical visualization tool that allows administrators to create and analyze various network performance metrics through graphical representations. This component processes user inputs to generate dynamic charts and graphs, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit client-side vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists within the input handling mechanisms of this visualization module, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted user-supplied data.
The technical flaw manifests as a cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79) within the Graph Explorer functionality where user-provided parameters are inadequately sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the browser context. Attackers can construct malicious payloads containing script code that gets executed when other users view the affected graphs or charts. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, allowing malicious JavaScript code to persist in the application's response and execute within the victim's browser session. This weakness specifically affects versions prior to 2024R1, indicating that the developers have likely implemented fixes in newer releases to address this security gap.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive monitoring credentials, or manipulate the visualization data to obscure critical system issues. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access all monitoring data available through the Graph Explorer, including sensitive network metrics, system configurations, and performance indicators that may reveal system vulnerabilities or operational weaknesses. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators have access to the monitoring platform. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential harvesting.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Nagios XI 2024R1 or later versions where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads, along with monitoring for unusual activity patterns in the Graph Explorer component. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security controls, particularly focusing on the prevention of cross-site scripting attacks through proper data validation and escaping mechanisms. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar vulnerabilities in other components of the monitoring infrastructure to ensure comprehensive protection against client-side exploitation techniques.