Vulnerability Database / CVE-2024-22116 CVE-2024-22116: Zabbix RCE Vulnerability CVE-2024-22116 is a remote code execution flaw in Zabbix that allows restricted administrators to execute arbitrary code via script parameters. This post explains its impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps. Published : January 28, 2026 CVE-2024-22116 Overview CVE-2024-22116 is a code injection vulnerability affecting Zabbix, the popular open-source monitoring solution. An administrator with restricted permissions can exploit the script execution functionality within the Monitoring Hosts section. The lack of default escaping for script parameters enables this user to execute arbitrary code via the Ping script, thereby compromising infrastructure. Critical Impact Administrators with limited privileges can escalate their access by injecting malicious commands through unescaped script parameters, potentially leading to full infrastructure compromise. Affected Products Zabbix versions prior to patched releases Zabbix 7.0.0 alpha1 through alpha9 Zabbix 7.0.0 beta1 through beta3, rc1, and rc2 Discovery Timeline 2024-08-12 - CVE-2024-22116 published to NVD 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database Technical Details for CVE-2024-22116 Vulnerability Analysis This vulnerability is classified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code / Code Injection). The flaw exists in how Zabbix handles script parameters within the Monitoring Hosts section. When an administrator executes built-in scripts like the Ping utility, user-supplied parameters are not properly sanitized or escaped before being passed to the underlying system shell. This architectural oversight allows an attacker with restricted administrative privileges to inject arbitrary shell commands alongside legitimate script parameters. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables privilege escalation—a user who should only have monitoring capabilities can leverage this flaw to execute code with the privileges of the Zabbix server process. Root Cause The root cause of CVE-2024-22116 is the absence of default escaping mechanisms for script parameters in the Zabbix Monitoring Hosts functionality. When scripts are executed, user-controlled input is concatenated directly into shell commands without proper sanitization. This creates a classic command injection scenario where metacharacters and shell operators can break out of the intended parameter context and execute attacker-controlled commands. Attack Vector The vulnerability is exploitable over the network by authenticated administrators with restricted permissions. The attack requires: Valid credentials for a restricted administrator account with access to the Monitoring Hosts section Permissions to execute scripts (specifically the Ping script functionality) Knowledge of shell injection techniques to craft malicious parameters An attacker would navigate to the Monitoring Hosts section and execute the Ping script against a target host. Instead of providing a legitimate hostname or IP address, the attacker injects shell metacharacters followed by arbitrary commands. These commands execute with the privileges of the Zabbix server process, potentially allowing data exfiltration, lateral movement, or further compromise of the monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability allows injection through the Ping script's parameter field. When a malicious parameter containing shell metacharacters (such as ; , | , && , or backticks) is provided, the unescaped input results in arbitrary command execution on the Zabbix server. For detailed technical information, refer to the Zabbix Issue Tracker Entry . Detection Methods for CVE-2024-22116 Indicators of Compromise Unusual script execution patterns in Zabbix audit logs, particularly Ping scripts with abnormal parameter values Unexpected processes spawned by the Zabbix server process Shell metacharacters ( ; , | , && , ` , $() ) appearing in script execution logs Network connections initiated from the Zabbix server to unexpected destinations Detection Strategies Monitor Zabbix audit logs for script executions containing shell metacharacters or suspicious parameter patterns Implement anomaly detection for command-line arguments passed to Zabbix script functions Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify unexpected child processes from the Zabbix server Review access logs for restricted administrators accessing the Monitoring Hosts section with unusual frequency Monitoring Recommendations Enable comprehensive audit logging in Zabbix and forward logs to a SIEM for analysis Create alerts for script execution events that contain potentially malicious characters or patterns Monitor the Zabbix server's process tree for unexpected command execution Implement network monitoring to detect anomalous outbound connections from the Zabbix server How to Mitigate CVE-2024-22116 Immediate Actions Required Apply the latest security patches from Zabbix that address C