HighPublic exploit

Command Injection in Zenoss Core 3.x showDaemonXMLConfig

IdentifiersCVE-2012-10048CWE-78

CVE-2012-10048 is a command injection vulnerability in Zenoss Core 3.x affecting the showDaemonXMLConfig endpoint. The issue is caused by the daemon parameter being passed directly to a Python Popen() call in ZenossInfo.py without proper sanitization or neutralization of shell metacharacters. An authenticated user can supply crafted input in the daemon parameter to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server in the security context of the zenoss user.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the Zenoss server as the zenoss user. This can enable compromise of the application host within that privilege boundary, including unauthorized access to application data, modification of configuration or monitored assets, installation of additional tooling or persistence mechanisms available to that account, and potential pivoting or further local privilege escalation depending on host configuration.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Restrict access to the vulnerable interface to only trusted administrative users, as exploitation requires authentication. Apply least-privilege controls to the zenoss service account to limit post-exploitation impact. If immediate patching is not possible, disable or otherwise block access to the showDaemonXMLConfig endpoint where operationally feasible, place the management interface behind network access controls, and monitor for suspicious requests containing shell metacharacters or unexpected daemon parameter values.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade Zenoss Core 3.x to a version in which the showDaemonXMLConfig endpoint and the underlying ZenossInfo.py handling of the daemon parameter no longer pass unsanitized user input into Popen(). The vulnerable code should be corrected by avoiding shell invocation where possible, using safe argument handling, and strictly validating or allowlisting acceptable daemon values before process execution.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.

VALID 1 / 1 TOTALView more in app

zenoss_showdaemonxmlconfig_exec.rbMaturityWeaponizedFrameworkmetasploitVerified exploit

This repository contains a single Metasploit module targeting a command execution vulnerability in Zenoss 3.x (CVE-2012-10048). The exploit abuses the 'showDaemonXMLConfig' endpoint, which is accessible to authenticated users, to execute arbitrary commands as the 'zenoss' user. The module requires valid Zenoss credentials and interacts with the application over HTTP, typically on port 8080. The payload is customizable and delivered via a POST request to '/zport/About/showDaemonXMLConfig', with the command injected into the 'daemon' parameter. The module also includes a check method to verify the target's version and authentication status. The code is written in Ruby and structured as a standard Metasploit exploit module.

Disclosed Jul 30, 2012rubynetwork

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

ZenossZenoss Coreapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

3 sources tracked across advisories and community write-ups. News coverage will land here when it surfaces.

3 SOURCESView more in app

No news coverage yet. Advisories and community discussion only.

What this page doesn’t show

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

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Detection signatures

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

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Social activity3