CVE-2019-16759
Confirmed PUBLISHEDvBulletin 5.x through 5.5.4 allows remote command execution via the widgetConfig[code] parameter in an ajax/render/widget_php routestring request.
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
vBulletin 5.x through 5.5.4 allows remote command execution via the widgetConfig[code] parameter in an ajax/render/widget_php routestring request.
- CVE Published
- Sep 24, 2019
- Exploitation Reported
- Nov 03, 2021
- CVSS
- 9.8 Critical
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a |
n/a
|
n/a |
Affected |
CVE References
- 20200811 Remote Code Execution 0day in vBulletin 5.x seclists.org · Mailing List http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/5
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/31 seclists.org · CVE Record https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/31
- theregister.co.uk/2019/09/24/vbulletin_vbug_zeroday theregister.co.uk · CVE Record https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/09/24/vbulletin_vbug_zeroday/
- arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/09/public-exploi... arstechnica.com · CVE Record https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/09/public-exploit...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/154623/vBulletin-5.x-0-Day-Pre-Auth-Re... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154623/vBulletin-5.x-0-Day-Pre-A...
Show 5 more references
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/154648/vBulletin-5.x-Pre-Auth-Remote-C... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154648/vBulletin-5.x-Pre-Auth-Re...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/155633/vBulletin-5.5.4-Remote-Command-... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/155633/vBulletin-5.5.4-Remote-Co...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158830/vBulletin-5.x-Remote-Code-Execu... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158830/vBulletin-5.x-Remote-Code...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158829/vBulletin-5.x-Remote-Code-Execu... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158829/vBulletin-5.x-Remote-Code...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158866/vBulletin-5.x-Remote-Code-Execu... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158866/vBulletin-5.x-Remote-Code...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2021-11-03 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-16759.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/vbulletin_widgetconfig_rce.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2021-11-03 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2019-09-25 16:12:27 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/vbulletin_widgetconfig_rce.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-16759.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2020-08-24 16:15:10 UTC · 1 stars
github · Created 2020-08-16 18:17:33 UTC · 5 stars
This tools will extracts and dumps Email + SMTP from vBulletin database server
github · Created 2020-08-12 17:54:52 UTC · 0 stars
github · Created 2019-10-12 18:51:16 UTC · 3 stars
Interactive-Like Command-Line Console for CVE-2019-16759
github · Created 2019-09-26 03:56:22 UTC · 21 stars
vBulletin 5.x 未授权远程代码执行漏洞
github · Created 2019-09-26 03:27:17 UTC · 3 stars
Nmap NSE Script to Detect vBulletin pre-auth 5.x RCE CVE-2019-16759
github · Created 2019-09-25 16:12:27 UTC · 5 stars
Vbulletin rce exploit CVE-2019-16759
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC about 1 year ago00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
16:12 UTC almost 7 years ago16:12 UTC · almost 7 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
21:01 UTC almost 7 years ago21:01 UTC · almost 7 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC almost 7 years ago00:00 UTC · almost 7 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2019-16759
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2019-16759",
"title": "vBulletin 5.x through 5.5.4 allows remote command execution via the widgetCon...",
"affected_vendor": "vBulletin",
"affected_product": "vBulletin",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 9.8,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}