# CVE-2019-12643: Cisco REST API Container for IOS XE Software Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

> Unauthenticated attackers can bypass authentication on Cisco IOS XE devices with the REST API enabled to execute privileged actions.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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:** No
- **Published:** 28 Aug 2019
- **Updated:** 19 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9j8q-456x-95cx

## What is CVE-2019-12643?

CVE-2019-12643 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 28 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the Cisco REST API virtual service container for Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on the managed Cisco IOS XE device. The vulnerability is due to an improper check performed by the area of code that manages the REST API authentication service. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting malicious HTTP requests to the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain the token-id of an authenticated user. This token-id could be used to bypass authentication and execute privileged actions through the interface of the REST API virtual service container on the affected Cisco IOS XE device. The REST API interface is not enabled by default and must be installed and activated separately on IOS XE devices. See the Details section for more information.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-12643?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Ios Xe.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-12643?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-12643 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-12643 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-12643 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xe

- [CVE-2023-20198](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20198/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-0151](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0151/): Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-20273](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20273/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection (high 7.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-20188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20188/): Hardcoded credentials in Cisco IOS XE Software (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-34770](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34770/): Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Family Wireless Controllers CAPWAP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-12643 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-12643 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 28 Aug 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-2019-12643 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe. 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-2019-12643/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12643/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-12643
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-12643
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-12643

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12643/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.