CVE-2021-36563
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in...
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
5.4
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
- Record
CVE-2021-36563- CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 3.5 Low
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
- Record
CVE-2021-36563- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-23165 No score
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
- Record
EUVD-2021-23165- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8r25-xwf2-j5q3 No score
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in...
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
- Record
GHSA-8r25-xwf2-j5q3- Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
5.4
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
- Record
CVE-2021-36563- CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-36563
5.4
The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in various parameters of the WATO module. This allows an attacker to open a backdoor on the device with HTML content and interpreted by the browser (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts), the XSS payload will be triggered when the user accesses some specific sections of the application. In the same sense a very dangerous potential way would be when an attacker who has the monitor role (not administrator) manages to get a stored XSS to steal the secretAutomation (for the use of the API in administrator mode) and thus be able to create another administrator user who has high privileges on the CheckMK monitoring web console. Another way is that persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify the displayed content or change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or with a hijacked session.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-36563- CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5527-1 No score
check-mk vulnerabilities
It was discovered that Checkmk incorrectly handled authentication. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a race condition leading to information disclosure. (CVE-2017-14955)
It was discovered that Checkmk incorrectly handled certain inputs. An attacker could use these cross-site scripting issues to inject arbitrary html or javascript code to obtain sensitive information including user information, session cookies and valid credentials. (CVE-2017-9781, CVE-2021-36563, CVE-2021-40906, CVE-2022-24565)
- Record
USN-5527-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5527-2 No score
check-mk vulnerabilities
USN-5527-1 fixed vulnerabilities in Checkmk. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 16.04 ESM.
Original advisory details:
It was discovered that Checkmk incorrectly handled authentication. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a race condition leading to information disclosure. (CVE-2017-14955)
It was discovered that Checkmk incorrectly handled certain inputs. An attacker could use these cross-site scripting issues to inject arbitrary html or javascript code to obtain sensitive information including user information, session cookies and valid credentials. (CVE-2017-9781, CVE-2021-36563, CVE-2021-40906, CVE-2022-24565)
- Record
USN-5527-2- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
check-mkUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
before 1.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1, plus listed versions 1.2.6p5-11.2.6p12-11.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1 |
1.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1 |
check-mkUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
before 1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.1 |
1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.2 |
check-mkUbuntu:18.04:LTS From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.1 |
1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.2 |
check-mkUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 1.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1, plus listed versions 1.2.6p5-11.2.6p12-11.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1 |
1.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | Edgarloyola/CVE-2021-36563 | 2021-07-27 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-36563 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.4) in Checkmk, published July 26, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.72%, the 77th percentile. Fixed in check-mk 1.2.6p12-1ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1.