# CVE-2019-15642: Code injection in n/a

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code on Webmin servers by exploiting unsafe eval calls in the RPC interface.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Aug 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wf78-9xpm-m77r

## What is CVE-2019-15642?

CVE-2019-15642 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Webmin Webmin, published on 26 Aug 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

rpc.cgi in Webmin through 1.920 allows authenticated Remote Code Execution via a crafted object name because unserialise_variable makes an eval call. NOTE: the Webmin_Servers_Index documentation states "RPC can be used to run any command or modify any file on a server, which is why access to it must not be granted to un-trusted Webmin users."

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-15642?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Webmin Webmin.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-15642?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-15642 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-15642 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-15642 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Webmin Remote Code Execution (authenticated)  (github_poc): https://github.com/jas502n/CVE-2019-15642
- Webmin < 1.920 - Authenticated Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-15642.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Webmin Webmin

- [CVE-2019-15107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15107/): Webmin Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2002-2201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2201/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2001-1196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-1196/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-12828](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12828/): Webmin CGI Command Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2022-36446](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-36446/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-15642 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-15642 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Webmin Webmin, published on 26 Aug 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-15642 exists.

Affected product: Webmin Webmin. 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-2019-15642/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15642/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15642
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-15642
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-15642

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15642/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.