Nagios XI before 5.6.6 allows remote command execution as root.

published 2019-09-05 7 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2019-6850

cvss: 8.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Exploited; added 2021-11-03
epss: 77.0%; EPSS 77.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.5%
public exploits: 4; Metasploit, Exploit-DB

Nagios XI before 5.6.6 allows remote command execution as root. The exploit requires access to the server as the nagios user, or access as the admin user via the web interface. The getprofile.sh script, invoked by downloading a system profile (profile.php?cmd=download), is executed as root via a passwordless sudo entry; the script executes check_plugin, which is owned by the nagios user. A user logged into Nagios XI with permissions to modify plugins, or the nagios user on the server, can modify the check_plugin executable and insert malicious commands to execute as root.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

fixed in 1

nagios nagios_xi 5.6.6

Timeline

2019-07-29 First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/linux/http/nagios_xi_plugins_check_plugin_authenticated_rce)
2019-09-05 Published
2021-11-03 Added to CISA KEV
2022-05-03 CISA patch deadline
2025-02-04 CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added: 5 y ago (2021-11-03)
Patch by: 2022-05-03 (4 y ago)
Ransomware: Not known
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product: Nagios, Nagios XI
CISA name: Nagios XI Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 21 mo ago (2025-02-04)

Exploit prediction

77.04% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.5% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

Metasploit exploit/linux/http/nagios_xi_plugins_check_plugin_authenticated_rce Nagios XI Prior to 5.6.6 getprofile.sh Authenticated Remote Command Execution metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2019-07-29
Metasploit auxiliary/scanner/http/nagios_xi_scanner Nagios XI Scanner metasploit auxiliary, normal rank
EDB-52138 Nagios Xi 5.6.6 - Authenticated Remote Code Execution (RCE) webapps, 2025-04-08
EDB-48191 Nagios XI - Authenticated Remote Command Execution (Metasploit) remote, 2020-03-10
github.com https://github.com/jakgibb/nagiosxi-root-rce-exploit referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156676/Nagios-XI-Authenticated-Remote-Command-Execution.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162158/Nagios-XI-getprofile.sh-Remote-Command-Execution.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CISA ADP	3.1	8.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	3.1	8.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	3.1	8.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	9.0	AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

Classification

Weakness

CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

References

github.com /jakgibb/nagiosxi-root-rce-exploit
exploit, third-party-advisory
packetstormsecurity.com /files/156676/Nagios-XI-Authenticated-Remote-Command-Execution.html
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
packetstormsecurity.com /files/162158/Nagios-XI-getprofile.sh-Remote-Command-Execution.html
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
cisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-15949
government-resource, us-government-resource

Sources

CVE List CVE-2019-15949
NVD CVE-2019-15949

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary