Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited

CVE-2018-9276: Paessler PRTG Network Monitor OS Command Injection Vulnerability

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). An issue was discovered in PRTG Network Monitor before 18.2.39.

CISA KEV · added 2025-02-04 CVSS 7.2 High EPSS 87.0% · p99.8

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

  • Yes, if you run Paessler PRTG Network Monitor. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-02-04, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-02-25; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
  • EPSS 87.0%, percentile 99.8: FIRST’s model estimates a 87.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
  • Needs an account (high (admin)). Exposure depends on who can log in.

What it is

An issue was discovered in PRTG Network Monitor before 18.2.39. An attacker who has access to the PRTG System Administrator web console with administrative privileges can exploit an OS command injection vulnerability (both on the server and on devices) by sending malformed parameters in sensor or notification management scenarios.

CISA’s summary

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor contains an OS command injection vulnerability that allows an attacker with administrative privileges to execute commands via the PRTG System Administrator web console.

Weakness type: CWE-78.

Product: Paessler PRTG Network Monitor · Assigned by: mitre · Published: 2018-07-02

Affected and fixed versions

VendorProductAffected versions (per CVE record)
n/an/asee vendor advisory

Severity scores

Scored byCVSSScoreVector
CISA-ADP3.17.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
  • Attack complexity: low
  • Privileges required: high (admin)
  • User interaction: none
  • Scope: unchanged

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

  • CISA KEV: added 2025-02-04; federal due date 2025-02-25. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
  • CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  • CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
  • FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 87.00% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.8.

Timeline

  • — CVE record published by mitre
  • — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
  • — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
  • — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

  1. Listed in CISA KEV notes (paessler.com) paessler.com

Vulnerability records

  1. CVE.org record CVE-2018-9276 cve.org
  2. NVD entry CVE-2018-9276 nvd.nist.gov

Government

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

  1. packetstormsecurity.com packetstormsecurity.com
  2. 46527 exploit-db.com
  3. 20180626 PRTG < 18.2.39 Command Injection securityfocus.com
  4. packetstormsecurity.com packetstormsecurity.com

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