Amazon ECS Agent: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
CVE-2026-7461 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in Amazon ECS Agent from AWS, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected Amazon ECS Agent versions: 1.47.0 through 1.102.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.55% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Amazon Ecs Container Agent to 1.103.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on aws.amazon.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | Amazon ECS Agent | 1.47.0 through 1.102.0 | Not stated |
| Amazon | Amazon Ecs Container Agent | 1.47.0 up to, but not including, 1.103.0 | 1.103.0 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.5 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | CNA |
Official description
Improper neutralization of inputs used in an OS command in the FSx Windows File Server volume mounting component in Amazon ECS Agent on Windows before version 1.103.0 might allow a remote authenticated threat actor to execute shell commands with SYSTEM privileges on the underlying host via a specially crafted username field in an ECS task definition. This issue requires permissions to register ECS task definitions or write to the Secrets Manager or SSM Parameter Store credentials used by the FSx volume configuration. To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 1.103.0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
- For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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