# CVE-2019-11888: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Attackers can gain privileges or read sensitive information on Windows due to mishandled process creation with nil environment and non-nil token.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 May 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8g7j-8p7x-qq3c

## What is CVE-2019-11888?

CVE-2019-11888 is a critical vulnerability in Golang Go, published on 13 May 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Go through 1.12.5 on Windows mishandles process creation with a nil environment in conjunction with a non-nil token, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information or gain privileges.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-11888?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Golang Go.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-11888?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2019-11888 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-11888 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Golang Go

- [CVE-2020-0601](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-0601/): Microsoft Windows CryptoAPI Spoofing (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-27143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27143/): Missing bound checks can lead to memory corruption in safe Go in cmd/compile (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-24790](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-24790/): Unexpected behavior from Is methods for IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses in net/netip (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-39320](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39320/): Arbitrary code execution via go.mod toolchain directive in cmd/go (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-24540](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24540/): Improper handling of JavaScript whitespace in html/template (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-11888 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-11888 is a critical vulnerability in Golang Go, published on 13 May 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-11888 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Golang Go. 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-2019-11888/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11888/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-11888
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-11888
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-11888

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11888/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.