# CVE-2019-17561: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature in Apache Netbeans

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by modifying downloaded NetBeans modules due to insufficient signature validation in the autoupdate system.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 30 Mar 2020
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2019-17561, GHSA-cf8q-j9h3-7237, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-17561

## What is CVE-2019-17561?

CVE-2019-17561 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Oracle Graalvm, published on 30 Mar 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The "Apache NetBeans" autoupdate system does not fully validate code signatures. An attacker could modify the downloaded nbm and include additional code. "Apache NetBeans" versions up to and including 11.2 are affected by this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-17561?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.codehaus.mevenide:netbeans. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.codehaus.mevenide:netbeans` | Maven | All versions to 3.1.4 | None |
| `org.codehaus.mevenide:netbeans` | Maven | All versions to 3.1.4 | None |

Products: Apache Netbeans, Oracle Graalvm.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-17561?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2019-17561 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-17561 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Oracle Graalvm

- [CVE-2020-11986](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11986/): Code injection in Apache NetBeans (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-17191](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17191/): Code injection in Apache NetBeans (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-17560](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17560/): Improper Certificate Validation in Apache Netbeans (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-17561 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-17561 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Oracle Graalvm, published on 30 Mar 2020. 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-2019-17561 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.codehaus.mevenide:netbeans (Maven): affected all versions up to 3.1.4; no fix listed
- org.codehaus.mevenide:netbeans (Maven): affected all versions up to 3.1.4; no fix listed

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-2019-17561/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17561/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17561
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-17561
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-17561

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17561/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.