# CVE-2019-17662: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can read the cleartext password file via directory traversal to compromise the VNC server, even when authentication is enabled.

- **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:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-23gm-hjpg-qfp3

## What is CVE-2019-17662?

CVE-2019-17662 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ThinVNC 1.0b1 is vulnerable to arbitrary file read, which leads to a compromise of the VNC server. The vulnerability exists even when authentication is turned on during the deployment of the VNC server. The password for authentication is stored in cleartext in a file that can be read via a ../../ThinVnc.ini directory traversal attack vector.

Weakness: CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials), CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-17662?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cybelsoft Thinvnc.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-17662?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-17662 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-17662 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-17662 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Exploit code for CVE-2019-17662 (github_poc): https://github.com/MuirlandOracle/CVE-2019-17662
- Exploit for CVE-2019-17662 (ThinVNC 1.0b1) (github_poc): https://github.com/whokilleddb/CVE-2019-17662
- https://github.com/bl4ck574r/CVE-2019-17662 (github_poc): https://github.com/bl4ck574r/CVE-2019-17662
- ThinVNC 1.0b1 is vulnerable to arbitrary file read, which leads to a compromise of the VNC server. The vulnerability exists even when authentication is turned on during the deployment of the VNC server. The password for authentication is stored in cleartext in a file that can be read via a ../../ThinVnc.ini directory traversal attack vector. (github_poc): https://github.com/kxisxr/Bash-Script-CVE-2019-17662
- Exploit For CVE-2019-17662 (github_poc): https://github.com/rajendrakumaryadav/CVE-2019-17662-Exploit
- Golang implementation of ThinVNC exploit CVE-2019-17662. For educational purposes only. (github_poc): https://github.com/thomas-osgood/CVE-2019-17662

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2022-25226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-25226/): Auth bypass in ThinVNC (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-17662 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-17662 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-17662 exists.

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-2019-17662/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17662/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17662
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-17662
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-17662

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17662/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.