CVE-2009-4498
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedThe node_process_command function in Zabbix Server before 1.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted request.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceThe node_process_command function in Zabbix Server before version 1.8 contains a command injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands by sending specially crafted requests to the server.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data<= 1.7.4= 1.1.2= 1.1.3= 1.1.4= 1.1.5= 1.4.2= 1.4.3= 1.6.6= 1.6.7= 1.6.8= 1.7= 1.7.1CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- M
- Authentication
- None
- Confidentiality
- Partial
- Integrity
- Partial
- Availability
- Partial
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
-
Identify Zabbix Server versionRun 'zabbix_server -V' or check the Zabbix agent/status page, or look in the GUI under 'System Information' or 'About' sections. On Linux systems, also check '/usr/sbin/zabbix_server -V' or rpm/dpkg queries like 'rpm -q zabbix-server' or 'dpkg -l zabbix-server'.Affected if The installed version is 1.7.4 or lower, or matches any of these specific versions: 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.6.6, 1.6.7, 1.6.8, 1.7, or 1.7.1.
-
Verify if node functionality is enabledCheck the Zabbix server configuration file (typically zabbix_server.conf) for 'Node' or 'HANode' directives, or look for a 'nodes' directory in the Zabbix installation. In the Zabbix web interface, navigate to Administration > Nodes if the node functionality is exposed.Affected if Node-based architecture is configured and enabled, exposing the node_process_command function.
-
Check network exposure of Zabbix portsReview firewall rules, networkACLs, or security group settings for the server. Identify open ports commonly used by Zabbix: 10051 (Zabbix server trapper), 10050 (Zabbix agent), and 80/443 (web interface). Use 'netstat -tlnp' or 'ss -tlnp' to list listening ports on the server.Affected if Zabbix server ports (10051, 10050, or web interface ports) are accessible from untrusted networks or the internet.
You are affected if your Zabbix Server version is 1.7.4 or lower, or matches any of the specific affected versions listed, and the node functionality is enabled with the server exposed to network access.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataUpgrade Zabbix Server to version 1.8 or later to obtain the patched code. If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict network access to the Zabbix server's frontend and API ports to trusted sources only.
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation4.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA1.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $2,800.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2009-4498 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2009-4498 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.
A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.
- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
- No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data