# CVE-2019-16278: Nostromo nhttpd Directory Traversal

> An attacker can achieve remote code execution on the nostromo web server via a crafted HTTP request exploiting a directory traversal vulnerability.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 7 Nov 2024 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-495x-r3cr-6rgx

## What is CVE-2019-16278?

CVE-2019-16278 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory Traversal in the function http_verify in nostromo nhttpd through 1.9.6 allows an attacker to achieve remote code execution via a crafted HTTP request.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-16278?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Nazgul Nostromo Nhttpd.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-16278?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-16278 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 28 Nov 2024.

## Is CVE-2019-16278 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2019-16278 in the wild since at least 7 Nov 2024.

Public exploit code:

- Directory transversal to remote code execution (github_poc): https://github.com/jas502n/CVE-2019-16278
- CVE-2019-16728  Proof of Concept (github_poc): https://github.com/imjdl/CVE-2019-16278-PoC
- A quick python exploit for the Nostromo 1.9.6 remote code execution vulnerability. Simply takes a host and port that the web server is running on.  (github_poc): https://github.com/AnubisSec/CVE-2019-16278
- Python script to exploit RCE in Nostromo nhttpd <= 1.9.6. (github_poc): https://github.com/aN0mad/CVE-2019-16278-Nostromo_1.9.6-RCE
- CVE-2019-16278Nostromo httpd命令执行 (github_poc): https://github.com/ianxtianxt/CVE-2019-16278
- PoC RCE exploit for Nostromo nhttpd ≤ 1.9.6 (github_poc): https://github.com/andknownmaly/CVE-2019-16278

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2019-16279](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16279/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-16278 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-16278 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2019-16278 in the wild since at least 7 Nov 2024.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2019-16278/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16278/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16278
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16278
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-16278

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16278/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.