CVE-2019-18659
5.3 · MEDIUMOverview
CVE-2019-18659 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting ready wireless_emergency_alerts. It was published on November 2, 2019 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3 (MEDIUM).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3, rated MEDIUM. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical 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.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from ready. Update wireless_emergency_alerts to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2019-18659?
CVE-2019-18659 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting ready wireless_emergency_alerts. It was published on November 2, 2019 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3 (MEDIUM).
How severe is CVE-2019-18659?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3, rated MEDIUM. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2019-18659?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from ready. Update wireless_emergency_alerts to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2019-18659?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2019-18659 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
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