# CVE-2019-18909: Command injection in ThinPro Linux

> Attackers can inject commands into HP ThinPro VPN software to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.

- **Severity:** High 8.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Nov 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2mcx-9373-6qh4

## What is CVE-2019-18909?

CVE-2019-18909 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in HP ThinPro Linux, published on 22 Nov 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The VPN software within HP ThinPro does not safely handle user supplied input, which may be leveraged by an attacker to inject commands that will execute with root privileges.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-18909?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Hp Thinpro.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-18909?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-18909 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-18909 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-18909 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in HP ThinPro Linux

- [CVE-2025-43017](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43017/): HP ThinPro 8.1 SP8 Security Updates (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2017-2740](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-2740/): Privilege escalation in HP ThinPro (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-2246](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2246/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-16287](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16287/): Privilege escalation in ThinPro Linux (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2019-18910](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18910/): Command injection in ThinPro Linux (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-18909 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-18909 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in HP ThinPro Linux, published on 22 Nov 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-18909 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: HP ThinPro Linux. 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-2019-18909/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18909/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-18909
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-18909
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-18909

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18909/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.