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  3. CVE-2021-25297
Exploited in the wildServers & business softwareWork IT

CVE-2021-25297 Nagios Nagios XI: command or code injection

In plain words: The program treats text it receives as instructions instead of plain data. The attacker can run commands on the machine — often the whole device is taken over.

Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Feb 1, 2022

What to do

  1. Install Nagios's security update for Nagios XI. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
  2. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
  3. Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
  4. Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.

Who is affected

Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.

The details

Official name
Nagios XI OS Command Injection
Product
Nagios Nagios XI
CISA description
Nagios XI contains a vulnerability which can lead to OS command injection on the Nagios XI server.
Type of flaw
Command or code injection (CWE-78, CWE-138)
Confirmed exploited
Jan 18, 2022
US federal patch deadline
Feb 1, 2022

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Answering about CVE-2021-25297 ·

Questions about CVE-2021-25297

Is CVE-2021-25297 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2021-25297 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jan 18, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.

How do I fix CVE-2021-25297?

Install Nagios's security update for Nagios XI. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.

Am I affected by CVE-2021-25297?

Only if you use Nagios Nagios XI. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

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