CVE-2024-13995 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-497, indicating exposure of sensitive system information to an unauthorized control sphere. It affects Nagios XI versions prior to 2024R1.1.2, specifically confirmed in versions 2024R1.1 and 2024R1.1.1. The flaw allows authenticated users with limited privileges to access sensitive data such as API keys and hashed passwords that should be restricted. This exposure arises from improper access control mechanisms within the Nagios XI application, which fails to adequately segregate sensitive information from users lacking the necessary permissions. The disclosed API keys can be abused to perform unauthorized actions via the Nagios API, potentially leading to further system compromise or data manipulation. Hashed passwords, if obtained, can be subjected to offline cracking attempts, increasing the risk of account takeover. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges beyond authentication, making it relatively easy to exploit. Despite no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, the high CVSS score (7.1) underscores the criticality of the issue. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality of the system primarily, with no direct impact on integrity or availability reported. Nagios XI is widely used for IT infrastructure monitoring, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on it for operational continuity and security monitoring.

For European organizations, the exposure of API keys and hashed passwords in Nagios XI can lead to significant security breaches. Compromise of API keys may allow attackers to manipulate monitoring configurations, disable alerts, or inject false data, undermining the reliability of critical infrastructure monitoring. This could delay detection of other attacks or system failures, increasing downtime and operational risk. Offline cracking of password hashes could result in unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially escalating privileges and enabling lateral movement within networks. Organizations in sectors such as energy, finance, telecommunications, and government, which rely heavily on Nagios XI for monitoring, face heightened risks of operational disruption and data breaches. The breach of monitoring systems also poses compliance risks under regulations like GDPR, as unauthorized access to sensitive information may occur. Given the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged to exploit this flaw, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild does not diminish the urgency, as the vulnerability is straightforward to exploit once discovered.

Immediate mitigation involves upgrading Nagios XI to version 2024R1.1.2 or later once the vendor releases the patch addressing this vulnerability. Until patches are available, organizations should enforce strict access controls to Nagios XI interfaces, limiting authenticated user accounts to only those absolutely necessary and applying the principle of least privilege. Monitoring and auditing of user activities within Nagios XI should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to retrieve sensitive information. API keys should be rotated regularly, and any keys suspected of exposure should be revoked and regenerated. Implement network segmentation to restrict access to Nagios XI servers from untrusted networks. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all Nagios XI user accounts to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Additionally, organizations should review and harden password policies to ensure strong, unique passwords that resist offline cracking attempts. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on monitoring infrastructure to identify and remediate similar weaknesses proactively.