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  3. CVE-2020-17519
Exploited in the wildServers & business softwareWork IT

CVE-2020-17519 Apache Flink: 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 Jun 13, 2024

What to do

  1. Install Apache's security update for Flink. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
  2. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
  3. Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
  4. 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
Apache Flink Improper Access Control Vulnerability
Product
Apache Flink
CISA description
Apache Flink contains an improper access control vulnerability that allows an attacker to read any file on the local filesystem of the JobManager through its REST interface.
Type of flaw
Login or permission bypass (CWE-552)
Confirmed exploited
May 23, 2024
US federal patch deadline
Jun 13, 2024

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Answering about CVE-2020-17519 ·

Questions about CVE-2020-17519

Is CVE-2020-17519 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2020-17519 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on May 23, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.

How do I fix CVE-2020-17519?

Install Apache's security update for Flink. 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-2020-17519?

Only if you use Apache Flink. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

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