Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Older versions of Nagios XI, a popular IT monitoring tool, contain a flaw on an admin-only configuration page that lets a logged-in administrator manipulate the underlying database. An attacker would already need admin credentials, but if they got them they could read, change, or delete monitoring data. Upgrading to Nagios XI 5.6.14 closes the issue.
Executive priority
Patch Nagios XI to 5.6.14 or later on a planned maintenance window. Tighten admin account hygiene now; this is an insider-or-stolen-credential risk against a sensitive monitoring platform.
Technical view
Authenticated SQL injection (CWE-89) in the SNMP Trap Interface page of Nagios XI prior to 5.6.14. An administrator-privileged user can submit crafted input that is not adequately sanitized before reaching a backend SQL query, enabling unauthorized read or modification of application data and execution of arbitrary SQL. CVSS 4.0 base 8.6 (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L). Fixed in Nagios XI 5.6.14.
Likely exposure
Any organization running Nagios XI prior to 5.6.14 with administrators who can reach the SNMP Trap Interface page. Exposure widens if the Nagios XI console is reachable from broad internal networks or from the internet without strong authentication controls.
Exploitation context
No public reports of active exploitation and the CVE is not in CISA KEV. Exploitation requires a working administrative session on Nagios XI, which raises the bar but does not eliminate risk from credential reuse, phishing, or malicious insiders.
Researcher notes
CWE-89 SQL injection on the SNMP Trap Interface page in Nagios XI before 5.6.14. CVSS 4.0 8.6 with PR:H aligns with required administrator privileges. Vendor changelog and VulnCheck advisory are the substantive references; no public PoC, KEV entry, or active-exploitation signal cited in the bundle. Affected version range in the CVE record is sparse (versions:["0"], defaultStatus:"unaffected"), so confirm fixed builds against the vendor changelog rather than relying on the CPE list.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Nagios XI to version 5.6.14 or later per the vendor changelog.
- Restrict the Nagios XI web console to trusted management networks only.
- Limit administrative accounts and require MFA on the upstream identity provider.
- Rotate Nagios XI admin credentials and review recent admin activity logs.
- Monitor database query logs for anomalous statements from the Nagios XI service account.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Nagios XI deployments and record exact build versions.
- Confirm whether each instance is at or above the 5.6.14 fixed release.
- Review who holds Nagios XI administrative roles and prune unused accounts.
- Check network reachability of the Nagios XI console from user and external networks.
- Audit Nagios XI and database logs for unexpected SQL activity from admin sessions.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-36857 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.6 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.6HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.nagios.com/products/security/#nagios-xiCVE reference · vendor-advisory, patch
- https://www.nagios.com/changelog/nagios-xi/CVE reference · release-notes, patch
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nagios-xi-authenticated-sqli-via-snmp-trap-interface-pageCVE reference · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.