Cyber Resilience

CVE-2019-12840

RCE in Webmin ≤ 1.910

Public PoCHigh EPSSRCECommand Injection
Published
15 June 2019
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.78 99.5th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2019-12840 is a high-severity OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Webmin Webmin. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A05:2025 Injection

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

In Webmin through 1.910, any user authorized to the "Package Updates" module can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via the data parameter to update.cgi.

CWE(s)
CWE-78

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
The vulnerability allows remote command execution with root privileges through a web application endpoint (update.cgi).
attack.mitre.org →
T1059.004 Unix Shell Executionconfidence: HIGH
Arbitrary OS commands can be executed via the vulnerable CGI script, directly enabling Unix shell command execution.
attack.mitre.org →
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: HIGH
The flaw permits privilege escalation from an authenticated low-privileged Webmin user to root via command injection.
attack.mitre.org →
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2019-15107Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2024-12828Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2023-38310Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2023-40985Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2022-0824Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2022-36446Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2023-38311Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2023-38309Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2024-36452Same product: Webmin Webmin
CVE-2024-36451Same product: Webmin Webmin

Affected Assets

webmin
webmin
≤ 1.910

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.2.5
  • V1.2.8
  • V15.2.5

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

SC-27 Platform-independent Applications
addresses: CWE-78

Platform-independent apps typically execute inside a managed runtime or sandbox that restricts direct OS command execution, reducing the ability to exploit OS command injection.

SI-10 Information Input Validation
addresses: CWE-78

Validates inputs to block special elements that would alter OS command execution.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly require secure coding and input handling that blocks command-injection defects, yet the single broad outcome leaves many specific neutralization vectors and verification gaps unaddressed.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching/maintenance can remediate known command-injection CVEs in dependencies (partial forward) but does nothing to stop developers from introducing improper neutralization in custom code (none reverse).

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
detects

Security testing and code review target insecure use of operating-system command interfaces, catching command-injection flaws introduced during development.

References