Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios 2.0.8 contains a remote code execution vulnerability in the autodiscovery feature that allows attackers to inject arbitrary...
Description
Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios 2.0.8 contains a remote code execution vulnerability in the autodiscovery feature that allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands. Attackers can exploit the lack of input filtering in the nmap_binary parameter to execute a reverse shell by sending a crafted POST request to the autodiscovery endpoint.
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Update Unknown Multiple Products to the latest version. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
Executive Summary:
A critical remote code execution vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-53948, exists in the Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios monitoring tool. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to take complete control of the affected server by sending a specially crafted request, posing a severe risk of data breach, service disruption, and further network compromise.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2023-53948
Affected Software: Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios
Affected Versions: 2.0.8
Vulnerability: The vulnerability is a command injection flaw within the autodiscovery feature of the Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios software. The
nmap_binaryparameter in this feature fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by sending a crafted POST request to the autodiscovery endpoint, injecting arbitrary operating system commands which are then executed with the privileges of the web server user. A common attack vector involves injecting a command to establish a reverse shell, giving the attacker interactive control over the compromised system.Business Impact
This vulnerability is rated as critical severity with a CVSS score of 9.8, reflecting the ease of exploitation and the potential for complete system compromise. Successful exploitation could lead to the theft of sensitive monitoring data, credentials for other systems, and personally identifiable information (PII). As Nagios servers often have privileged access to other network infrastructure for monitoring purposes, an attacker could use the compromised host as a pivot point for lateral movement, leading to a widespread breach across the organization. The potential consequences include significant operational disruption, financial loss, and severe reputational damage.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: The primary remediation is to update the affected Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios component to the latest patched version as recommended by the vendor. After patching, it is crucial to review web server and system access logs for any signs of exploitation attempts that may have occurred before the update was applied.
Proactive Monitoring: Organizations should monitor for indicators of compromise, including unusual POST requests to the autodiscovery endpoint in web server logs. System administrators should also monitor for suspicious outbound network connections from the Nagios server, which could indicate a reverse shell, and look for unexpected processes being spawned by the web server's user account (e.g.,
sh,bash,nc,curl).Compensating Controls: If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should implement compensating controls. Restrict network access to the Nagios web interface, allowing connections only from trusted administrative IP addresses. A Web Application Firewall (WAF) can also be configured with rules to inspect and block malicious POST requests containing command injection payloads targeting the vulnerable
nmap_binaryparameter.Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: true
Analyst Notes: As of Dec 19, 2025, this vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, given the critical CVSS score and the straightforward nature of the command injection attack, proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits are publicly available. Threat actors are likely actively scanning for and exploiting this vulnerability against internet-facing Nagios instances.
Analyst Recommendation
Due to the critical severity (CVSS 9.8) and the availability of public exploits, immediate action is required. We strongly recommend that organizations identify all instances of Lilac-Reloaded for Nagios 2.0.8 and apply the necessary patches without delay. While this vulnerability is not yet on the CISA KEV list, its high impact and ease of exploitation make it a prime target for attackers, and it should be treated with the highest priority.