Wazuh CVE-2021-26814 RCE Exploitation via Directory Traversal in Web Requests

Detects Wazuh-related web requests attempting path traversal through the /manager/files query parameter.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Category: webserver
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-05-22
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
- T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies attempted exploitation of a Wazuh remote code execution vulnerability by matching web requests whose URI query contains a specific traversal payload targeting /manager/files and system list paths. Attackers often use crafted traversal strings to access unintended files and enable subsequent compromise. The detection relies on webserver telemetry capturing the full request URI query string.

Reporting behind it

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Wazuh CVE-2021-26814 RCE Exploitation via Directory Traversal in Web Requests

Pivot detection · T1190 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

wazuh-rce-exploitation-attempt-via-traversal-in-manager-files-path-parameter-b9888738

title: Wazuh CVE-2021-26814 RCE Exploitation via Directory Traversal in Web Requests
id: 8ec015c7-4546-466d-a9b9-a207e7c517ed
status: test
description: This rule identifies attempted exploitation of a Wazuh remote code execution vulnerability by matching web requests whose URI query contains a specific traversal payload targeting /manager/files and system list paths. Attackers often use crafted traversal strings to access unintended files and enable subsequent compromise. The detection relies on webserver telemetry capturing the full request URI query string.
references:
  - https://github.com/WickdDavid/CVE-2021-26814/blob/6a17355a10ec4db771d0f112cbe031e418d829d5/PoC.py
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2021/Exploits/CVE-2021-26814/web_cve_2021_26814_wzuh_rce.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-05-22
modified: 2023-01-02
tags:
  - attack.initial-access
  - attack.t1190
  - cve.2021-21978
  - cve.2021-26814
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: webserver
detection:
  selection:
    cs-uri-query|contains: /manager/files?path=etc/lists/../../../../..
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b9888738-29ed-4c54-96a4-f38c57b84bb3
    type: derived

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