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CVE-2019-18659

MEDIUMCVSS 5.3/10EPSS 0.98%

Last modified

CVE-2019-18659 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 5.3/10 on the CVSS scale. The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) protocol allows remote attackers to spoof a Presidential Alert because cryptographic authentication is not used, as demonstrated by MessageIdentifier 4370 in LTE System Information Block 12 (aka SIB12). NOTE: testing inside an RF-isolated shield box suggested that all LTE phones are affected by design (e.g., use of Android versus iOS does not matter); testing in an open RF environment is, of course, contraindicated.. EPSS estimates a 0.98% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) protocol allows remote attackers to spoof a Presidential Alert because cryptographic authentication is not used, as demonstrated by MessageIdentifier 4370 in LTE System Information Block 12 (aka SIB12). NOTE: testing inside an RF-isolated shield box suggested that all LTE phones are affected by design (e.g., use of Android versus iOS does not matter); testing in an open RF environment is, of course, contraindicated.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1
5.3/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

EPSS Probability
0.98%

57.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

VendorProductVersions
ReadyWireless Emergency AlertsAll versions

References

Timeline

Published
Last Modified
Status
Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-18659?
The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) protocol allows remote attackers to spoof a Presidential Alert because cryptographic authentication is not used, as demonstrated by MessageIdentifier 4370 in LTE System Information Block 12 (aka SIB12). NOTE: testing inside an RF-isolated shield box suggested that all LTE phones are affected by design (e.g., use of Android versus iOS does not matter); testing in an open RF environment is, of course, contraindicated.
How severe is CVE-2019-18659?
CVE-2019-18659 has a CVSS score of 5.3/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.98% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2019-18659?
Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2019-18659?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

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Source: NVD / NIST