# CVE-2009-4502: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers from trusted IPs can bypass security settings to execute arbitrary commands on Zabbix Agent via shell metacharacters.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2009
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2009-4502, GHSA-v6qg-5p9x-9hh9

## What is CVE-2009-4502?

CVE-2009-4502 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Zabbix Zabbix, published on 31 Dec 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The NET_TCP_LISTEN function in net.c in Zabbix Agent before 1.6.7, when running on FreeBSD or Solaris, allows remote attackers to bypass the EnableRemoteCommands setting and execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the argument to net.tcp.listen.  NOTE: this attack is limited to attacks from trusted IP addresses.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-4502?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zabbix Zabbix.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-4502?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2009-4502 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-4502 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Zabbix Agent net.tcp.listen Command Injection (metasploit)
- Zabbix Agent < 1.6.7 - Remote Bypass (exploitdb)
- Zabbix Agent - 'net.tcp.listen' Command Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Zabbix Zabbix

- [CVE-2022-23131](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23131/): Zabbix Frontend Authentication Bypass (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2007-0640](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-0640/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-42327](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-42327/): SQL injection in user.get API (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2024-22116](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22116/): Remote code execution within ping script (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2013-3738](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3738/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-4502 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-4502 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Zabbix Zabbix, published on 31 Dec 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-4502 exists.

Affected product: Zabbix Zabbix. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4502/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4502/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-4502
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-4502
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-4502

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4502/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.