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Fencer Intel
high 8.0

CVE-2019-11539 kev+ ransomware in the critical feed json

In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure version 9.0RX before 9.0R3.4, 8.3RX before 8.3R7.1, 8.2RX before 8.2R12.1, and 8.1RX before 8.1R15.1 a…

published 7y ago modified 4mo ago also EUVD-2019-3210

cvss
8.0
version 3.0, CNA
cisa kev
Exploited
added 2021-11-03, used in ransomware
epss
98.5%
EPSS 98.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.9%
public exploits
3
Metasploit and Exploit-DB

Summary

In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure version 9.0RX before 9.0R3.4, 8.3RX before 8.3R7.1, 8.2RX before 8.2R12.1, and 8.1RX before 8.1R15.1 and Pulse Policy Secure version 9.0RX before 9.0R3.2, 5.4RX before 5.4R7.1, 5.3RX before 5.3R12.1, 5.2RX before 5.2R12.1, and 5.1RX before 5.1R15.1, the admin web interface allows an authenticated attacker to inject and execute commands.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Is CVE-2019-11539 in your stack? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.

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Timeline

  1. First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/linux/http/pulse_secure_cmd_exec)
  2. Published
  3. Added to CISA KEV
  4. CISA patch deadline
  5. CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added
5y ago
Patch by
2022-05-03 (4y ago)
Ransomware
Known to be used in ransomware campaigns
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product
Ivanti, Pulse Connect Secure and Pulse Policy Secure
CISA name
Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure and Policy Secure Command Injection Vulnerability

Ransomware

Groups reported to have exploited it in intrusions.

  • Pioneer Kitten suspected state-sponsored
  • REvil ransomware gang

reported by cisa.govsentinelone.com

Ransomware Vulnerability Matrix by BushidoUK (github.com/BushidoUK/Ransomware-Vulnerability-Matrix), reformatted per CVE. CC BY 4.0

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable
no
Technical impact
total
Assessed
last yr.

Exploit prediction

98.54% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

Exploits and checks

  • Metasploit exploit/linux/http/pulse_secure_cmd_exec Pulse Secure VPN Arbitrary Command Execution metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2019-04-24
  • EDB-47700 Pulse Secure VPN - Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit) remote, 2019-11-20
  • EDB-47354 Pulse Secure 8.1R15.1/8.2/8.3/9.0 SSL VPN - Remote Code Execution remote, 2019-09-06
  • i.blackhat.com https://i.blackhat.com/USA-19/Wednesday/us-19-Tsai-Infiltrating-Corporate-Intranet-Like-NSA.pdf referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
  • devco.re https://devco.re/blog/2019/09/02/attacking-ssl-vpn-part-3-the-golden-Pulse-Secure-ssl-vpn-rce-chain-with-Twitter-as-case-study/ referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CNA 3.0 8.0 CVSS:3.0/AC:H/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:H/S:C/UI:N
NVD 3.1 7.2 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA 3.0 8.0 CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD 2.0 6.5 AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

Classification

Weakness
  • CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
Technology feeds

References

Sources

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.