Netdata vulnerable to command injection
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-77.
Summary
Netdata is an open source option for real-time infrastructure monitoring and troubleshooting. An attacker with the ability to establish a streaming connection can execute arbitrary commands on the targeted Netdata agent. When an alert is triggered, the function `health_alarm_execute` is called. This function performs different checks and then enqueues a command by calling `spawn_enq_cmd`. This command is populated with several arguments that are not sanitized. One of them is the `registry_hostname` of the node for which the alert is raised. By providing a specially crafted `registry_hostname` as part of the health data that is streamed to a Netdata (parent) agent, an attacker can execute arbitrary commands at the remote host as a side-effect of the raised alert. Note that the commands are executed as the user running the Netdata Agent. This user is usually named `netdata`. The ability to run arbitrary commands may allow an attacker to escalate privileges by escalating other vulnerabilities in the system, as that user. The problem has been fixed in: Netdata agent v1.37 (stable) and Netdata agent v1.36.0-409 (nightly). As a workaround, streaming is not enabled by default. If you have previously enabled this, it can be disabled. Limiting access to the port on the recipient Agent to trusted child connections may mitigate the impact of this vulnerability.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA netdata (netdata) Fixed in 1.36.0-409, 1.37
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-22496
References
More Netdata vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-08745 Netdata is vulnerable to improper authentication CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2019-07217 The Netdata web application through 1.13.0 allows remote attackers to inject their own… CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2025-43503 Netdata < 2.3.1 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via love Parameter in ilove.svg Endpoint CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.1
Sources
- CVE-2023-22496 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-22496 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2023-22496 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences