📄 Description (English)
A flaw was found in Cockpit. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to achieve arbitrary command execution on the host by exploiting unsanitized user-controlled parameters within crafted links in the system logs user interface (UI). An attacker can inject shell metacharacters and command substitutions into these parameters, leading to the execution of arbitrary shell commands on the affected system. This could result in a complete system compromise.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-4802 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Cockpit that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems through malicious links in system logs UI. With a CVSS score of 8.0 and no patch currently available, this poses an immediate threat to organizations using Cockpit for system management. The vulnerability requires no authentication and can lead to complete system compromise, making it a high-priority concern for Saudi infrastructure operators.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 15, 2026 00:37
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi government agencies (NCA, NCSC), telecommunications operators (STC, Mobily), energy sector (Saudi Aramco, SEC), and financial institutions using Cockpit for system administration. Government data centers and critical infrastructure management systems are particularly vulnerable. The lack of authentication requirement and potential for complete system compromise makes this especially dangerous for organizations managing sensitive national infrastructure. Healthcare facilities and banking systems using Cockpit for server management are also at elevated risk.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government and Public Administration
Banking and Financial Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.5
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all systems running Cockpit and document their criticality level
2. Restrict network access to Cockpit interfaces using firewall rules - limit to trusted administrative networks only
3. Disable Cockpit service on non-essential systems until patch is available
4. Monitor system logs for suspicious activity patterns and command injection attempts
COMPENSATING CONTROLS:
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing shell metacharacters (|, ;, &, $, `, >, <, etc.) in URL parameters
2. Deploy intrusion detection signatures for Cockpit command injection attempts
3. Enable comprehensive audit logging for all Cockpit access and command execution
4. Implement network segmentation to isolate Cockpit management interfaces
5. Use SSH key-based authentication exclusively and disable password authentication
6. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous command execution
DETECTION RULES:
1. Alert on HTTP requests to Cockpit containing shell metacharacters in parameters
2. Monitor for unexpected child processes spawned from Cockpit service
3. Track failed and successful authentication attempts to Cockpit interfaces
4. Monitor system logs for commands executed with Cockpit service privileges
PATCHING STRATEGY:
1. Subscribe to Cockpit security advisories for patch availability
2. Prepare patch deployment plan for immediate implementation once available
3. Test patches in isolated lab environment before production deployment
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تعمل بـ Cockpit وتوثيق مستوى أهميتها
2. تقييد الوصول إلى واجهات Cockpit باستخدام قواعد جدار الحماية - حصر الوصول على الشبكات الإدارية الموثوقة فقط
3. تعطيل خدمة Cockpit على الأنظمة غير الأساسية حتى يتوفر التصحيح
4. مراقبة سجلات النظام للأنشطة المريبة ومحاولات حقن الأوامر
الضوابط البديلة:
1. تطبيق قواعد جدار تطبيقات الويب (WAF) لحجب الطلبات التي تحتوي على أحرف shell (|، ;، &، $، `، >، <، إلخ) في معاملات URL
2. نشر توقيعات كشف التسلل لمحاولات حقن أوامر Cockpit
3. تفعيل تسجيل التدقيق الشامل لجميع عمليات الوصول والأوامر في Cockpit
4. تطبيق تقسيم الشبكة لعزل واجهات إدارة Cockpit
5. استخدام المصادقة القائمة على مفاتيح SSH حصرياً وتعطيل المصادقة بكلمة المرور
6. نشر حلول الكشف والاستجابة على نقاط النهاية (EDR) للكشف عن تنفيذ الأوامر الشاذة
قواعد الكشف:
1. تنبيهات على طلبات HTTP إلى Cockpit تحتوي على أحرف shell في المعاملات
2. مراقبة العمليات الفرعية غير المتوقعة التي تنشأ من خدمة Cockpit
3. تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة والناجحة لواجهات Cockpit
4. مراقبة سجلات النظام للأوامر المنفذة بامتيازات خدمة Cockpit
استراتيجية التصحيح:
1. الاشتراك في تنبيهات أمان Cockpit لتوفر التصحيحات
2. تحضير خطة نشر التصحيح للتطبيق الفوري عند توفره
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة معزولة قبل النشر في الإنتاج
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
ECC 2024 A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
ECC 2024 A.12.3.1 - Configuration management
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change management
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and risk assessment
PR.DS-6 - Data security and integrity
PR.IP-12 - Security patch management
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scanning and management
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.3.1 - Configuration management
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.2.1 - Change management procedures
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches and updates
Requirement 11.2 - Vulnerability scanning