CVE-2019-1831 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco Email Security Appliance Content Filter Bypass Vulnerability discovered on April 17, 2019.

Understanding CVE-2019-1831

A vulnerability in Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA) could allow remote attackers to bypass content filters.

What is CVE-2019-1831?

The flaw in Cisco AsyncOS Software for ESA allows attackers to circumvent content filters by inserting specific character strings into email messages.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1831

CVSS Base Score: 5.8 (Medium Severity)
Attackers can bypass configured content filters on the device.
Successful exploitation enables attackers to avoid email content filtering.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1831

The vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

Inadequate validation of email body input in Cisco ESA.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA)
Affected Version: 11.1.2-023

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers insert specific character strings into email messages to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches and updates.
Monitor Cisco's security advisories for any new information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems.
Implement email security best practices to reduce the risk of email-based attacks.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to address the vulnerability.