CVE-2024-14005 is an OS command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-78 that affects Nagios XI versions prior to 2024R1.2. The flaw exists in the Docker Wizard feature, where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input allows an authenticated administrator to inject shell metacharacters into backend command invocations. This improper neutralization of special elements enables the execution of arbitrary OS commands with the privileges of the Nagios XI web application user, which typically runs with elevated permissions within the monitoring environment. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without user interaction, requiring only authenticated administrator access, which is a common role in Nagios XI deployments. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.4 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability, highlighting its potential to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of monitored systems and the Nagios XI server itself. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the ease of exploitation and high impact make it a significant threat. Nagios XI is widely used in enterprise IT environments for monitoring network infrastructure, servers, and applications, making this vulnerability a serious concern for organizations relying on it for operational continuity.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2024-14005 could lead to full compromise of the Nagios XI monitoring server, resulting in unauthorized command execution, data theft, manipulation of monitoring data, and potential disruption of IT infrastructure monitoring. This could cause delayed detection of outages or security incidents, impacting business operations and compliance with regulations such as GDPR. Attackers could pivot from the compromised Nagios XI server to other internal systems, escalating the breach impact. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and government agencies that rely heavily on Nagios XI for infrastructure monitoring are particularly at risk. The vulnerability’s exploitation could undermine trust in monitoring data and lead to operational downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage.

1. Immediately upgrade Nagios XI installations to version 2024R1.2 or later, where this vulnerability is patched. 2. Restrict administrator access to the Docker Wizard feature to only trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization controls on all user inputs, especially those interacting with backend command execution. 4. Monitor Nagios XI logs and system activity for unusual command executions or signs of exploitation attempts. 5. Employ network segmentation to isolate Nagios XI servers from critical infrastructure where feasible. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on administrative interfaces. 7. Educate administrators on the risks of command injection and safe usage practices within Nagios XI. 8. Consider deploying application-layer firewalls or runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and block injection attempts.