#VU20297 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls in Serv-U FTP Server - CVE-2019-12181

Vulnerability identifier: #VU20297

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 2 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2019-12181

CWE-ID: CWE-264

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: Yes

Vulnerable software:
Serv-U FTP Server
Server applications / File servers (FTP/HTTP)

Vendor: SolarWinds

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to unspecified error. A remote authenticated attacker can escalate privileges on the system by manipulating the installer arguments.

The vulnerability affects Serv-U releases on Linux systems.

Mitigation
Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Serv-U FTP Server: 15.1 - 15.1.6

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External links
https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153333/Serv-U-FTP-Server-15.1.6-Privilege-Escalation.html
https://blog.vastart.dev/2019/06/cve-2019-12181-serv-u-exploit-writeup.html
https://documentation.solarwinds.com/en/success_center/servu/Content/Release_Notes/Servu_15-1-7_release_notes.htm
https://support.solarwinds.com/SuccessCenter/s/article/Serv-U-Potential-elevation-of-privileges-on-Linux-systems

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote authenticated user via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability. However, a fully functional exploit for this vulnerability is available.