# CVE-2018-19640: Code execution if run with command line switch -v

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands or kill processes if supportutils is run with the -v switch and log directory files are manipulated.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.4 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 Mar 2019
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7g5j-9rpf-g2r7

## What is CVE-2018-19640?

CVE-2018-19640 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in SUSE supportutils, published on 5 Mar 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

If the attacker manages to create files in the directory used to collect log files in supportutils before version 3.1-5.7.1 (e.g. with CVE-2018-19638) he can kill arbitrary processes on the local machine.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), CWE-377 (DEPRECATED: Insecure Temporary File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-19640?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Opensuse Supportutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-19640?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-19640 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-19640 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in SUSE supportutils

- [CVE-2018-19636](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19636/): Local root exploit via inclusion of attacker controlled shell script (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2018-19639](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19639/): Code execution if run with command line switch -v (medium 6.7)
- [CVE-2022-45154](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45154/): supportconfig does not remove passwords in /etc/iscsi/iscsid.conf and /etc/target/lio_setup.sh (medium 4.4)
- [CVE-2018-19637](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19637/): Static temporary filename allows overwriting of files (low 2.8)
- [CVE-2018-19638](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19638/): User can overwrite arbitrary log files in support tar (low 2.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-19640 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-19640 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in SUSE supportutils, published on 5 Mar 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-19640 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SUSE supportutils. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19640/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19640/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19640
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19640
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-19640

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19640/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.