CVE-2019-18988 TeamViewer Desktop: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline May 3, 2022
What to do
- Install TeamViewer's security update for Desktop. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
- Product
- TeamViewer Desktop
- CISA description
- TeamViewer Desktop allows for bypass of remote-login access control because the same AES key is used for different customers' installations. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protected information stored in registry or configuration files or decryption of the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system).
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-521)
- Confirmed exploited
- Nov 3, 2021
- US federal patch deadline
- May 3, 2022
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Questions about CVE-2019-18988
Is CVE-2019-18988 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2019-18988 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Nov 3, 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2019-18988?
Install TeamViewer's security update for Desktop. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2019-18988?
Only if you use TeamViewer Desktop. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.