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TI-2023-27488 Aliases CVE-2023-50260

Wazuh's vulnerability in host_deny AR script allows arbitrary command execution

Priority HIGH 73CWE-94Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-94.

Summary

Wazuh is a free and open source platform used for threat prevention, detection, and response. A wrong validation in the `host_deny` script allows to write any string in the `hosts.deny` file, which can end in an arbitrary command execution on the target system. This vulnerability is part of the active response feature, which can automatically triggers actions in response to alerts. By default, active responses are limited to a set of pre defined executables. This is enforced by only allowing executables stored under `/var/ossec/active-response/bin` to be run as an active response. However, the `/var/ossec/active-response/bin/host_deny` can be exploited. `host_deny` is used to add IP address to the `/etc/hosts.deny` file to block incoming connections on a service level by using TCP wrappers. Attacker can inject arbitrary command into the `/etc/hosts.deny` file and execute arbitrary command by using the spawn directive. The active response can be triggered by writing events either to the local `execd` queue on server or to the `ar` queue which forwards the events to agents. So, it can leads to LPE on server as root and RCE on agent as root. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.7.2.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.4116 98th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed wazuh (wazuh): 4.7.2

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Wazuhwazuh4.2.0 to before 4.7.24.7.2Patch availableCNA
  • wazuh VendorWazuh Affected 4.2.0 to before 4.7.2 Fixed in 4.7.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:wazuh:wazuh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.2.0 to before 4.7.2VulnerableWazuh
  • cpe:2.3:a:wazuh:wazuh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.0 to before 4.7.2 Vulnerable ·Wazuh

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA wazuh (wazuh) Fixed in 4.7.2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-50260

References

  • TI-2025-17783 Remote code execution in Wazuh server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2026-23722 Path traversal in wazuh CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2024-01157 Remote code execution and local privilege escalation in Wazuh Windows agent via NetNTLMv2 hash theft CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.5
  • TI-2026-22556 Wazuh: Pre-auth stack-based buffer overflow in wazuh-remoted print_hex_string() due to signed char promotion on x86_64 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2026-35598 Wazuh: cluster peer can read arbitrary master files and forge offline REST API… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2026-35467 Wazuh: merged-file header path traversal in cluster sync allows arbitrary file write under WAZUH_PATH in Wazuh manager CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
See all 72 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences