CVE-2019-10068 is a critical vulnerability affecting Kentico Xperience versions 12.0.x before 12.0.15, 11.0.x before 11.0.48, 10.0.x before 10.0.52, and all 9.x versions. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit a failure in security header validation. Specifically, a specially crafted request can bypass initial authentication, leading to the deserialization of user-controlled .NET object input. This deserialization can result in unauthenticated remote code execution on the server hosting the Kentico instance.
This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating its critical severity. Such a high score means that the risk to organizations includes significant potential damage, unauthorized access, and disruption of services. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely without authentication poses a serious threat and highlights the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability.
Currently, the vulnerability is listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, which indicates its active exploitation in the wild. Organizations using affected versions of Kentico must prioritize patching immediately to mitigate associated risks.
Failure to remediate this vulnerability could lead to severe consequences, including data breaches and loss of customer trust. The potential for exploitation is critical, and organizations should act swiftly to secure their systems.
Vulnerability Details
The official CVE description states that the vulnerability arises from a failure to validate security headers in Kentico Xperience. This flaw allows unauthenticated remote code execution through the deserialization of untrusted data. The CVSS version 3.1 vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, which reflects its network attack vector and low complexity.
The affected product is Kentico Xperience, and the CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-502, indicating issues related to deserialization of untrusted data. Organizations using this software must take immediate action to patch their systems.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to properly validate security headers, which opens the door for attackers to send crafted requests that bypass authentication mechanisms. The exploitation can occur over a network, requiring no special privileges or user interaction, which significantly lowers the barriers for potential attackers.
The attack complexity is rated as low, meaning that attackers can exploit this vulnerability with minimal effort. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated as high, indicating that a successful attack could compromise sensitive data, alter or destroy information, and disrupt services.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk posed by CVE-2019-10068 is substantial. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Kentico Xperience are at risk of remote code execution, which can lead to data breaches, loss of sensitive information, and significant reputational damage. The potential blast radius of such an attack could affect multiple systems if not contained.
With an exploitability score indicating critical risks and a high EPSS score of 0.938, organizations must act swiftly. The urgency for remediation is underscored by its presence in the KEV catalog, marking it as actively exploited in the wild. Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Kentico Xperience are affected: versions 9.x, 10.0.x prior to 10.0.52, 11.0.x prior to 11.0.48, and 12.0.x prior to 12.0.15. Organizations using these versions should take immediate action to upgrade to the patched versions to mitigate the vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the patches provided by Kentico. For detailed instructions, refer to the vendor advisory. In addition, organizations should review their security configurations and ensure that their environments are hardened against potential exploitation.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor their logs for unusual authentication bypass attempts and deserialization errors. Behavioral anomalies and network signatures indicative of exploitation should also be closely monitored.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2019-10068 serves as a reminder of the importance of validating input and security headers in web applications. The active exploitation in the wild highlights the need for organizations to maintain vigilance and regularly update their systems. Security teams should consider adopting a vulnerability management program to proactively identify and address weaknesses. Additionally, organizations should implement continuous security testing to ensure their defenses remain robust against evolving threats.
Finally, the significance of this vulnerability should not be underestimated, as it represents a critical risk to any organization using the affected versions of Kentico Xperience. Security assessments, including offensive security testing, should be conducted regularly to uncover and mitigate such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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