# CVE-2019-10166: Missing authorization in libvirt

> Local attackers can modify managed save files via an unprotected API to execute arbitrary code with libvirtd privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Aug 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2019-10166, DEBIAN-CVE-2019-10166, GHSA-g9cg-gvh5-48hm, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-10166

## What is CVE-2019-10166?

CVE-2019-10166 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 2 Aug 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

It was discovered that libvirtd, versions 4.x.x before 4.10.1 and 5.x.x before 5.4.1, would permit readonly clients to use the virDomainManagedSaveDefineXML() API, which would permit them to modify managed save state files. If a managed save had already been created by a privileged user, a local attacker could modify this file such that libvirtd would execute an arbitrary program when the domain was resumed.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-10166?

It affects 9 products.


Products: Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Redhat Libvirt, Redhat Virtualization.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-10166?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2019-10166 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-10166 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Enterprise Linux

- [CVE-2018-14667](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14667/): Red Hat JBoss RichFaces Framework Expression Language Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-20325](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20325/): Missing fixes for CVE-2021-40438 and CVE-2021-26691 in the versions of httpd, as shipped in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5.0, causes a securit (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-25011](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-25011/): Memory corruption in libwebp (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-25014](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-25014/): Other in libwebp (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-3585](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3585/): Supply chain in redhat-upgrade-tool (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-10166 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-10166 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 2 Aug 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-10166 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise Linux. 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-2019-10166/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-10166/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-10166
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-10166
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-10166

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-10166/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.