# CVE-2019-16305: Command injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands via crafted MobaXterm protocol links if the user confirms the execution prompts.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pg54-ccpq-c42c

## What is CVE-2019-16305?

CVE-2019-16305 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In MobaXterm 11.1 and 12.1, the protocol handler is vulnerable to command injection. A crafted link can trigger a popup asking whether the user wants to run MobaXterm to handle the link. If accepted, another popup appears asking for further confirmation. If this is also accepted, command execution is achieved, as demonstrated by the MobaXterm://`calc` URI.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-16305?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mobatek Mobaxterm.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-16305?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-16305 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-16305 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-16305 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2019-7690](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7690/): Information disclosure in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-15376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15376/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-38337](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38337/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2019-13475](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13475/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-25866](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-25866/): MobaXterm < 26.1 Notepad++ Unquoted Service Path (high 8.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-16305 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-16305 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-16305 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2019-16305/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16305/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16305
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16305
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-16305

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16305/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.