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CVE-2023-50260

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

8.8 High

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

41.2%Up 41.1 points since Apr 20, 2024
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.8

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

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.

Record
CVE-2023-50260
CVSS 3.1
8.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-94
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-55074 8.8

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.

Record
EUVD-2023-55074
CVSS 3.1
8.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
NVD 8.8

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.

Record
CVE-2023-50260
CVSS 3.1
8.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-94
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 8.8

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

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.

Record
CVE-2023-50260
CVSS 3.1
8.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-94
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-50260 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Wazuh, published April 19, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 41.2%, the 98th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

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