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CVE-2021-36563

The CheckMK management web console (versions 1.5.0 to 2.0.0) does not sanitise user input in...

5.4 MediumPublic exploitFix available

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

1.72%Up 1.3 points since Jul 27, 2021
90%50%10%1%

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 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVSS 2.0
3.5 LowAV: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 MediumCVSS: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 MediumCVSS: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

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
check-mk
Ubuntu: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-mk
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions
1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.1
1.2.8p16-1ubuntu0.2
check-mk
Ubuntu: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-mk
Ubuntu: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.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubEdgarloyola/CVE-2021-365632021-07-27

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE 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.

References

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