# CVE-2019-9531: Auth bypass in Explorer 710

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can access a Telnet port to execute AT commands, gaining shell-like access to the device.

- **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:** 10 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-89mq-5pcv-5m9x

## What is CVE-2019-9531?

CVE-2019-9531 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cobham plc Explorer 710, published on 10 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The web application portal of the Cobham EXPLORER 710, firmware version 1.07, allows unauthenticated access to port 5454. This could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to connect to this port via Telnet and execute 86 Attention (AT) commands, including some that provide unauthenticated, shell-like access to the device.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication), CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-9531?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cobham Explorer 710 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-9531?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-9531 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-9531 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-9531 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cobham plc Explorer 710

- [CVE-2019-9533](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9533/): The root password of the Cobham EXPLORER 710 is the same for all versions of firmware up to and including v1.08 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-9532](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9532/): The web application portal of the Cobham EXPLORER 710, firmware version 1.07, sends the login password in cleartext (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-9534](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9534/): The Cobham EXPLORER 710, firmware version 1.07, does not validate its firmware image (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-9529](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9529/): The web application portal of the Cobham EXPLORER 710, firmware version 1.07, has no authentication by default (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2019-9530](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9530/): Missing authorization in Explorer 710 (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-9531 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-9531 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cobham plc Explorer 710, published on 10 Oct 2019. 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-2019-9531 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cobham plc Explorer 710. 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-2019-9531/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9531/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9531
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9531
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-9531

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9531/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.