CVE-2025-43079

Local Privilege Escalation via qagent_uninstall.sh Qualys Cloud Agents

Published Nov 10, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 6.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to Mac and Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall script is executed with elevated privileges (e.g., via sudo) in an environment where $PATH has been manipulated, an attacker with root/sudo privileges could cause malicious executables to be run in place of the intended system binaries. This behavior can be leveraged for local privilege escalation and arbitrary command execution under elevated privileges.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Customers are advised to update to non-affected versions of Qualys product.


Vendor Workaround

Customers are advised to check workaround solutions listed on  https://www.qualys.com/security-advisories/cve-2025-43079

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:arm:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:bottlerocket:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:bottlerocket_intel:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:coreos:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:googlecos:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:ppc:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:zlinux:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:imb_aix:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:ibm_aix:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Qualys Inc
Qualys Inc qualys Agent
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:64_bit:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:bsd:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:imb_aix:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:linux:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:macos:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:macos_m_series_silicon_cpu_:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:qualys_inc:qualys_agent:*:*:x86:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Qualys Inc
Qualys Inc qualys Agent
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall script is executed with elevated privileges (e.g., via sudo) in an environment where $PATH has been manipulated, an attacker with root/sudo privileges could cause malicious executables to be run in place of the intended system binaries. This behavior can be leveraged for local privilege escalation and arbitrary command execution under elevated privileges. The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to Mac and Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall script is executed with elevated privileges (e.g., via sudo) in an environment where $PATH has been manipulated, an attacker with root/sudo privileges could cause malicious executables to be run in place of the intended system binaries. This behavior can be leveraged for local privilege escalation and arbitrary command execution under elevated privileges.
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-732
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-426
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux
Qualys
Qualys cloud Agent
Qualys cloud Agent For Linux
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux
Qualys
Qualys cloud Agent
Qualys cloud Agent For Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to MacOS and Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall script is executed with elevated privileges (e.g., via sudo) in an environment where $PATH has been manipulated, an attacker with root/sudo privileges could cause malicious executables to be run in place of the intended system binaries. This behavior can be leveraged for local privilege escalation and arbitrary command execution under elevated privileges. The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall script is executed with elevated privileges (e.g., via sudo) in an environment where $PATH has been manipulated, an attacker with root/sudo privileges could cause malicious executables to be run in place of the intended system binaries. This behavior can be leveraged for local privilege escalation and arbitrary command execution under elevated privileges.
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to MacOS and Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall script is executed with elevated privileges (e.g., via sudo) in an environment where $PATH has been manipulated, an attacker with root/sudo privileges could cause malicious executables to be run in place of the intended system binaries. This behavior can be leveraged for local privilege escalation and arbitrary command execution under elevated privileges.
Title Local Privilege Escalation via qagent_uninstall.sh Qualys Cloud Agents
Weaknesses CWE-732
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Qualys
Published
Updated
Mar 18, 2026, 5:10 PM
Reserved
Apr 16, 2025, 2:43 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Nov 10, 2025, 6:16 PM
Modified
Oct 7, 2026, 9:10 PM