Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache CloudStack's run and get diagnostics functionality for the system VMs and virtual routers. An authenticated user holding the permissions required to invoke either `getDiagnosticsData` or `runDiagnostics` can achieve arbitrary command execution on the system VM and/or Virtual Router instances, with commands running as root (or as the diagnostics-process user, at minimum). This represents a full compromise of the affected instance and, depending on network segmentation, may provide a foothold for lateral movement within the CloudStack-managed infrastructure, including access to guest network traffic handled by the compromised Virtual Router. The getDiagnosticsData and runDiagnostics APIs are restricted to only Admin role accounts by default. This issue affects Apache CloudStack: from 4.20.0.0 through 4.20.3.0 and from 4.21.0.0 through 4.22.1.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.20.3.1 or 4.22.1.1 or later, which fixes the issue.
This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8, indicating it can be exploited remotely over the network with relatively low complexity without requiring user interaction requiring only low-level privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (unauthorized modifications), and availability (service disruption) for affected systems. Impacting 1 product from apache organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.
Reported in 2026, this vulnerability emerged during an era marked by increased sophistication in supply chain attacks, cloud infrastructure vulnerabilities, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) security challenges. Security practices during this period emphasized zero-trust architectures, container security, and API protection.
2026-08-21T09:16:39.717
2026-08-27T14:39:17.247
Analyzed
CVSSv3.1: 8.8 (HIGH)
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version/Range | Vulnerable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application | apache | cloudstack | < 4.20.3.1 | Yes |
| Application | apache | cloudstack | < 4.22.1.1 | Yes |
SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For apache's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.