CVE-2019-18988
published 2020-02-07CVE-2019-18988: TeamViewer Desktop through 14.7.1965 allows a bypass of remote-login access control because the same key is used for different customers' installations. It…
PriorityP279high7CVSS 3.1
AVLACHPRLUINSUCHIHAH
KEVITWEXPLOIT
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilitydue 2022-05-03
Exploited in the wild
EPSS
4.75%
90.7th percentile
TeamViewer Desktop through 14.7.1965 allows a bypass of remote-login access control because the same key is used for different customers' installations. It used a shared AES key for all installations since at least as far back as v7.0.43148, and used it for at least OptionsPasswordAES in the current version of the product. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protect information stored in the registry or configuration files of TeamViewer. With versions before v9.x , this allowed for attackers to decrypt the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system as well as headless file browsing). The latest version still uses the same key for OptionPasswordAES but appears to have changed how the Unattended Access password is stored. While in most cases an attacker requires an existing session on a system, if the registry/configuration keys were stored off of the machine (such as in a file share or online), an attacker could then decrypt the required password to login to the system.
Affected
1 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| teamviewer | teamviewer | <= 14.7.1965 | — |
Detection & IOCsextracted from sources · hover to see the quote
- →Hunt for TeamViewer registry keys containing AES-encrypted password values (OptionsPasswordAES / OptionPasswordAES). Presence of these keys combined with known shared AES key decryption attempts indicates exploitation of CVE-2019-18988. ↗
- →Monitor for post-exploitation tooling (e.g., Metasploit module post/windows/gather/credentials/teamviewer_passwords) executing on Windows hosts, which specifically targets TeamViewer stored credentials. ↗
- →Alert on access to TeamViewer registry hives or configuration files from non-TeamViewer processes, especially when followed by outbound connections — may indicate credential harvesting for remote login bypass. ↗
- →For pre-v9 TeamViewer installations, prioritize detection: the shared AES key directly exposes the Unattended Access password, enabling full remote login and headless file browsing without user interaction. ↗
- ·The same hardcoded AES key has been present across all TeamViewer installations since at least v7.0.43148, meaning any installation in that range shares the same decryption key — scope of exposure is very broad. ↗
- ·TeamViewer Desktop through 14.7.1965 is confirmed vulnerable; versions before v9.x are at highest risk as the Unattended Access password is directly decryptable with the shared key. ↗
- ·Exploitation does not strictly require an active session if TeamViewer registry/config files are accessible remotely (e.g., stored on a file share), significantly lowering the bar for unauthenticated attackers. ↗
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.17.0HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv2.04.4MEDIUMAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
vulncheck7.0HIGH
cisa7.0HIGH
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CISA ICS
VISAM VBASE Editor
cisa_ics·2021-11-09·CVSS 7.4
[HIGH] VISAM VBASE Editor
## Archived Content In an effort to keep CISA.gov current, the archive contains outdated information that may not reflect current policy or programs.
ICS Advisory
##
VISAM VBASE Editor
Last RevisedNovember 09, 2021
Alert CodeICSA-21-308-01
## 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- CVSS v3 7.4
- ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
- Vendor: VISAM
- Equipment: VBASE
- Vulnerabilities: Improper Access Control, Cross-site Scripting, Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
## 2. RISK EVALUATION
Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities may allow un-neutralized user-controllable data input, disclosure of local files, access to NTLM (Windows New Technology LAN Manager) hashes
CISA
TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
cisa·2021-11-03·CVSS 7.0
CVE-2019-18988 [HIGH] CWE-521 TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
Vulnerability: TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
Affected: TeamViewer Desktop
TeamViewer Desktop allows for bypass of remote-login access control because the same AES key is used for different customers' installations. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protected information stored in registry or configuration files or decryption of the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system).
Required Action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Notes: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-18988
Remediation Due Date: 2022-05-03
GHSA
GHSA-98mp-frx2-qv94: TeamViewer Desktop through 14
ghsa_unreviewed·2022-05-24
CVE-2019-18988 [MEDIUM] CWE-521 GHSA-98mp-frx2-qv94: TeamViewer Desktop through 14
TeamViewer Desktop through 14.7.1965 allows a bypass of remote-login access control because the same key is used for different customers' installations. It used a shared AES key for all installations since at least as far back as v7.0.43148, and used it for at least OptionsPasswordAES in the current version of the product. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protect information stored in the registry or configuration files of TeamViewer. With versions before v9.x , this allowed for attackers to decrypt the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system as well as headless file browsing). The latest version still uses the same key for OptionPasswordAES but appears to have changed how the Unattended Access password is stored. While
VulnCheck
TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
vulncheck·2019·CVSS 7.0
CVE-2019-18988 [HIGH] CWE-521 TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
TeamViewer Desktop allows for bypass of remote-login access control because the same AES key is used for different customers' installations. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protected information stored in registry or configuration files or decryption of the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system).
Affected: TeamViewer Desktop
Required Action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Exploitation References: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
Exploit PoC: https://vulncheck.com/xdb/15aa9088b9e8; https://vulncheck.com/xdb/ab7ae9b0b03e
Remediation Due: 2022-05-03
No detection rules found.
https://community.teamviewer.com/t5/Announcements/Specification-on-CVE-2019-18988/td-p/82264https://community.teamviewer.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/tkb-p/Knowledgebase?threadtype=label&labels=Securityhttps://twitter.com/Blurbdust/status/1224212682594770946?s=20https://whynotsecurity.com/blog/teamviewer/https://community.teamviewer.com/t5/Announcements/Specification-on-CVE-2019-18988/td-p/82264https://community.teamviewer.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/tkb-p/Knowledgebase?threadtype=label&labels=Securityhttps://twitter.com/Blurbdust/status/1224212682594770946?s=20https://whynotsecurity.com/blog/teamviewer/https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-18988
2020-02-07
Published
2021-11-03
Added to CISA KEV
Exploited in the wild