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CVE-2019-11510 KEVRansomwarePublic exploit Critical · 10.0 EPSS >99.9%
Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability
Ivanti · Pulse Connect Secure
Summary
Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure contains an arbitrary file read flaw, stemming from improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, affecting versions 8.2 before 8.2R12.1, 8.3 before 8.3R7.1, and 9.0 before 9.0R3.4. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit it by sending a specially crafted URI, requiring only network access with no authentication or user interaction.
Official description · NVD
In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.2 before 8.2R12.1, 8.3 before 8.3R7.1, and 9.0 before 9.0R3.4, an unauthenticated remote attacker can send a specially crafted URI to perform an arbitrary file reading vulnerability .
Priority scorePatchfirst’s 0 to 100 ranking. It adds points for CISA KEV listing, ransomware use, EPSS, threat reports, public exploit code and CVSS. Every CVE page shows the breakdown. Breakdown
90.0 / 100
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 6
- Tactics
- 5/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
What can follow
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 7 days before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (Metasploit) was available 14 days before disclosure.
- Public exploit codeMetasploit14 days before
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence7 days before
- Disclosedday 0
- Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+2 yrs
- Named in a threat reportmicrosoft.com+3 yrs
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
4 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order 4Initial AccessTA0001
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · how it is exploited
CVE 2019-11510 Pulse Secure Connect is vulnerable to unauthenticated arbitrary file disclosure. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to gain access to administrative credentials.
ExecutionTA0002
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · primary impact
Credential AccessTA0006
Credentials In Files T1552.001
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
DiscoveryTA0007
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
Lower-confidence links (1)
These come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict this CVE’s details (for example a public-facing technique on a bug that needs a user to open a file). Shown for completeness.
- Exploitation for Credential AccessT1212 CTID attack_to_cve Phase 1 "Uncategorized" mapping (not staged by impact)
Detection
1 rule for this CVE · 163 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
1Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2019-11510 directly.- Pulse Secure Attack CVE-2019-11510criticaltest
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
External Remote ServicesT113320 general rules
- External Remote SMB Logon from Public IPhightest
- OpenCanary - SSH Login Attempthightest
- OpenCanary - SSH New Connection Attempthightest
- OpenCanary - Telnet Login Attempthightest
- Running Chrome VPN Extensions via the Registry 2 VPN Extensionhightest
- Unusual Child Process of dns.exehightest
- Unusual File Deletion by Dns.exehightest
- Unusual File Modification by dns.exehightest
Command and Scripting InterpreterT105995 general rules
- HackTool - Sliver C2 Implant Activity Patterncriticaltest
- Lazarus Group Activitycriticaltest
- REvil Kaseya Incident Malware Patternscriticaltest
- Turla Group Lateral Movementcriticaltest
- Windows Defender AMSI Trigger Detectedhighstable
- Windows Defender Threat Detectedhighstable
- Abusable DLL Potential Sideloading From Suspicious Locationhightest
- Add Insecure Download Source To Wingethightest
Credentials In FilesT1552.00124 general rules
- Potential Russian APT Credential Theft Activitycriticalstable
- Copy Passwd Or Shadow From TMP Pathhightest
- Credentials In Fileshightest
- Credentials In Files - Linuxhightest
- HackTool - Typical HiveNightmare SAM File Exporthightest
- HackTool - WinPwn Executionhightest
- HackTool - WinPwn Execution - ScriptBlockhightest
- Linux Recon Indicatorshightest
File and Directory DiscoveryT108324 general rules
- Turla Group Lateral Movementcriticaltest
- WannaCry Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- HackTool - PCHunter Executionhightest
- PUA - Seatbelt Executionhightest
- Shell Execution GCC - Linuxhightest
- Shell Execution via Find - Linuxhightest
- Shell Execution via Flock - Linuxhightest
- Shell Execution via Nice - Linuxhightest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Named in 6 threat reports6 reportsCISA3NCSC UK2MicrosoftMay 2022 · 5 undated
Reports are matched by finding the exact id CVE-2019-11510 in their text; nobody has reviewed the match. One passage is shown per report, at most 320 characters, linked to the original.
AA20-258A: Chinese Ministry of State Security-Affiliated Cyber Threat Actor Activity
CISA has conducted multiple incident response engagements at Federal Government and commercial entities where the threat actors exploited CVE-2019-11510—an arbitrary file reading vulnerability affecting Pulse Secure VPN appliances—to gain access to victim networks.
3 passages name itOriginal (opens in a new tab) ↗
AA21-200B: Chinese State-Sponsored Cyber Operations: Observed TTPs
Many exploits can be mitigated by applying available patches for vulnerabilities (such as CVE-2019-11510, CVE-2019-19781, and CVE-2020-5902) affecting external remote services.
Iran-Based Threat Actor Exploits VPN Vulnerabilities
Mentions the CVE; no further detail.
Show all 6 reportsShow fewer
Advisory further TTPs associated with SVR cyber actors
Mentions the CVE; no further detail.
Advisory: APT29 targets
Mentions the CVE; no further detail.
Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 202621 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX