📄 Description (English)
Apache HTTP Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability — Apache HTTP Server, with MPM event, worker or prefork, code executing in less-privileged child processes or threads (including scripts executed by an in-process scripting interpreter) could execute code with the privileges of the parent process (usually root) by manipulating the scoreboard.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2019-0211 is a critical privilege escalation vulnerability in Apache HTTP Server affecting MPM event, worker, and prefork configurations. Malicious code running in low-privileged child processes can manipulate the scoreboard to execute arbitrary code with root-level privileges of the parent process. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where multiple tenants execute scripts via in-process interpreters such as mod_php. A public exploit is available, making immediate patching essential for all affected deployments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 12, 2026 05:16
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations across multiple critical sectors face significant exposure. Government entities and NCA-regulated bodies running Apache-based web portals and e-government services (Yesser, Absher, etc.) are at high risk of full server compromise. Banking and financial institutions regulated by SAMA that host Apache on internet-facing or internal servers could face root-level breaches leading to data exfiltration and regulatory violations. Energy sector organizations including Saudi Aramco and SABIC running Apache on operational or corporate web infrastructure face potential lateral movement risks post-exploitation. Telecom providers such as STC and Zain KSA with large-scale shared hosting platforms are especially vulnerable due to multi-tenant script execution environments. Healthcare organizations using Apache-based patient portals or HIS systems face risks of sensitive data exposure under PDPL obligations.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking
Telecom
Energy
Healthcare
Education
Retail
Hosting Providers
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Apache HTTP Server instances across the environment using asset inventory tools.
2. Determine MPM configuration (event, worker, prefork) for each instance — all are affected.
3. Restrict untrusted script execution (e.g., disable mod_php, mod_perl, mod_python) as a temporary compensating control.
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
4. Upgrade Apache HTTP Server to version 2.4.39 or later immediately — this is the official fix.
5. For RHEL/CentOS: run 'yum update httpd'; for Ubuntu/Debian: run 'apt-get upgrade apache2'.
6. Verify patched version with 'httpd -v' or 'apache2 -v'.
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching is delayed):
7. Isolate Apache servers behind WAF with strict egress filtering.
8. Disable in-process scripting interpreters and use FastCGI/external processes instead.
9. Apply OS-level controls: use SELinux/AppArmor to restrict Apache child process privileges.
10. Implement strict file permission controls on the scoreboard file.
DETECTION RULES:
11. Monitor for unexpected privilege escalation events in system logs (e.g., /var/log/auth.log, auditd).
12. Create SIEM alerts for Apache child processes spawning shells or accessing sensitive files.
13. Deploy auditd rules to monitor writes to Apache scoreboard memory regions.
14. Check for indicators of compromise: unexpected root-owned processes spawned by Apache worker PIDs.
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع نسخ Apache HTTP Server في البيئة باستخدام أدوات جرد الأصول.
2. تحديد تكوين MPM (event أو worker أو prefork) لكل نسخة — جميعها متأثرة.
3. تقييد تنفيذ السكريبتات غير الموثوقة (مثل تعطيل mod_php وmod_perl وmod_python) كإجراء تعويضي مؤقت.
إرشادات التصحيح:
4. الترقية إلى Apache HTTP Server الإصدار 2.4.39 أو أحدث فوراً — هذا هو الإصلاح الرسمي.
5. لأنظمة RHEL/CentOS: تشغيل 'yum update httpd'؛ لأنظمة Ubuntu/Debian: تشغيل 'apt-get upgrade apache2'.
6. التحقق من الإصدار المُصحَّح باستخدام 'httpd -v' أو 'apache2 -v'.
الضوابط التعويضية (في حال تأخر التصحيح):
7. عزل خوادم Apache خلف جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) مع تصفية صارمة للاتصالات الصادرة.
8. تعطيل مفسرات السكريبت المدمجة واستخدام FastCGI أو العمليات الخارجية بدلاً منها.
9. تطبيق ضوابط على مستوى نظام التشغيل: استخدام SELinux أو AppArmor لتقييد صلاحيات العمليات الفرعية لـ Apache.
10. تطبيق ضوابط صارمة لأذونات الملفات على ملف scoreboard.
قواعد الكشف:
11. مراقبة أحداث رفع الصلاحيات غير المتوقعة في سجلات النظام.
12. إنشاء تنبيهات SIEM للعمليات الفرعية لـ Apache التي تُنشئ shells أو تصل إلى ملفات حساسة.
13. نشر قواعد auditd لمراقبة الكتابة في مناطق ذاكرة scoreboard الخاصة بـ Apache.
14. التحقق من مؤشرات الاختراق: العمليات غير المتوقعة المملوكة للمستخدم root والمُنشأة من PIDs عمال Apache.
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC-1-4-2: Patch and vulnerability management
ECC-1-3-1: Asset management and classification
ECC-2-2-1: Access control and least privilege enforcement
ECC-3-3-3: Web application security controls
ECC-1-5-1: Cybersecurity incident management
🔵 SAMA CSF
Cybersecurity Risk Management — Vulnerability and patch management
Cybersecurity Operations — Threat and vulnerability management
Cybersecurity Architecture — Secure configuration management
Identity and Access Management — Privilege access controls
Cybersecurity Incident Management — Detection and response
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.8.8 — Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.8.2 — Privileged access rights
A.8.9 — Configuration management
A.5.30 — ICT readiness for business continuity
A.8.16 — Monitoring activities
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
Requirement 6.3.3 — All system components protected from known vulnerabilities by patching
Requirement 6.2.4 — Software engineering techniques to prevent common vulnerabilities
Requirement 7.2 — Access control systems and least privilege
Requirement 11.3 — External and internal vulnerability scanning
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Apache:HTTP Server