Rapid7 InsightVM, Nexpose, and Insight Agent Local Privilege Escalation via Unvalidated Executable Invocation
Rapid7 InsightVM, Nexpose, and the Insight Agent execute discovered executables during authenticated assessment without validating file ownership, allowing a local low-privileged user to run code as the scan credential (Scan Engine) or as root/SYSTEM (Insight Agent). Fixed in Scan Engine content 1.1.3935 and Insight Agent content component 0.0.245.0.
Description: CWE-250 Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
Metrics
Version
Base score
Base severity
Vector
3.1
7.8
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Version:3.1
Base score:7.8
Base severity: HIGH
Vector:
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Metrics Other Info
Impacts
CAPEC ID
Description
N/A
An unprivileged local user can achieve arbitrary code execution as root (Linux/macOS) or SYSTEM (Windows) via the Insight Agent, or as the configured scan credential identity via the Scan Engine, by planting a malicious executable in a user-writable directory that is then discovered and executed during assessment data collection.
CAPEC ID: N/A
Description: An unprivileged local user can achieve arbitrary code execution as root (Linux/macOS) or SYSTEM (Windows) via the Insight Agent, or as the configured scan credential identity via the Scan Engine, by planting a malicious executable in a user-writable directory that is then discovered and executed during assessment data collection.
Solutions
Update to Scan Engine content version 1.1.3935 or later (InsightVM and Nexpose) and Insight Agent content component version 0.0.245.0 or later. Internet-connected deployments receive these fixes automatically via content updates. Air-gapped or offline deployments should apply the corresponding content update via the offline content update process.