How severe is CVE-2020-5791?

CVE-2020-5791 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-5791 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 79% (100th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-5791?

CVE-2020-5791 affects Nagios Nagios Xi. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-5791?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-5791 published?

CVE-2020-5791 was published on 2020-10-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-5791

CVE-2020-5791 is a high-severity vulnerability in Nagios Nagios Xi with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 79% places it in the 100th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-78.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.2)
CVSS v2: 9.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 79% (100th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-78
Affected product: Nagios Nagios Xi
Published: 2020-10-20
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command in Nagios XI 5.7.3 allows a remote, authenticated admin user to execute operating system commands with the privileges of the apache user.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-5791?: Improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command in Nagios XI 5.7.3 allows a remote, authenticated admin user to execute operating system commands with the privileges of the apache user.
How severe is CVE-2020-5791?: CVE-2020-5791 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-5791 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 79% (100th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-5791?: CVE-2020-5791 affects Nagios Nagios Xi. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-5791?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-5791 published?: CVE-2020-5791 was published on 2020-10-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:nagios:nagios_xi:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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