# What is CVE-2019-12399? > CVE-2019-12399 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) in Kafka from Apache, published on 14 January 2020. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 3.9%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2019-12399 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 47 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.5 out of 10) - **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today - **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 3.9% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 14 January 2020 - **Record last updated:** 7 November 2023 - **Main product:** Kafka from Apache - **Affected products:** 13 ## What is CVE-2019-12399? In plain terms It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data. ### The official description When Connect workers in Apache Kafka 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.1.0, 2.1.1, 2.2.0, 2.2.1, or 2.3.0 are configured with one or more config providers, and a connector is created/updated on that Connect cluster to use an externalized secret variable in a substring of a connector configuration property value, then any client can issue a request to the same Connect cluster to obtain the connector's task configuration and the response will contain the plaintext secret rather than the externalized secrets variables. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information ### How an attack on it works - Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet - How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions - Login needed first: No login needed - Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything - What an attacker gets: Can read data Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N` ## Is CVE-2019-12399 being exploited? Not that we know of It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 3.9%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 3.9%, 3.9%, 3.9%, 3.9%, 3.9%, 3.9%, 3.9%. ### Timeline - 14 January 2020: Published - 7 November 2023: Record last updated ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2019-12399 scores **47 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation". Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less: - Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor - How severe it is: strong factor - How widely exposed it is: smaller factor - Threat activity around it: smaller factor 85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it. ## Who is affected by CVE-2019-12399? The published record lists 13 products. Versions are as published: "before 21.1.2" means every version up to, but not including, 21.1.2. - [Kafka](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/apache/kafka) by [Apache](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/apache) (Application): 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.1.0, 2.1.1, 2.2.0, 2.2.1, 2.3.0 - [Banking Corporate Lending Process Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_corporate_lending_process_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.1.0, 14.3.0, 14.4.0 - [Banking Credit Facilities Process Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_credit_facilities_process_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.1.0, 14.3.0, 14.4.0 - [Banking Trade Finance Process Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_trade_finance_process_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.1.0, 14.3.0, 14.4.0 - [Banking Virtual Account Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_virtual_account_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.1.0, 14.3.0, 14.4.0 - [Banking Liquidity Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_liquidity_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.0.0 to 14.4.0 - [Banking Payments](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_payments) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.4.0 - [Banking Platform](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_platform) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 2.7.0 - [Banking Supply Chain Finance](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_supply_chain_finance) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.2.0 to 14.4.0 - [Blockchain Platform](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/blockchain_platform) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): before 21.1.2 - [Communications Cloud Native Core Policy](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_cloud_native_core_policy) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 1.9.0 - [Financial Services Analytical Applications Infrastructure](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/financial_services_analytical_applications_infrastructure) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 8.0.6 to 8.1.0 - [Flexcube Universal Banking](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/flexcube_universal_banking) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.4.0 ## How do I fix CVE-2019-12399? 1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list. 2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list. 3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in. 4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood. ### References - [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory) - [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory) - [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory) - [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6af5ed95726874e9add022955be83c192428c248d1c9a1914aff89d9%40%3Cdev.kafka.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Vendor advisory) - [openwall.com](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/01/14/1) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0e3a613705d70950aca2bfe9a6265c87503921852d9a3dbce512ca9f%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2d390dec5f360ec8aa294bef18e1a4385e2a3698d747209216f5a48b%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3154f5adbc905f1f9012a92240c8e00a96628470cc819453b9606d0e%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3203d7f25a6ca56ff3e48c43a6aa7cb60b8e5d57d0eed9f76dc2b7a8%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r47c225db363d1ee2c18c4b3b2f51b63a9789f78c7fa602e5976ecd05%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4b20b40c40d4a4c641e2ef4228098a57935e5782bfdfdf3650e48265%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4d9e87cdae99e98d7b244cfa53d9d2532d368d3a187fbc87c493dcbe%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r56eb055b544931451283fee51f7e1f5b8ebd3085fed7d77aaba504c9%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6af5ed95726874e9add022955be83c192428c248d1c9a1914aff89d9%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6af5ed95726874e9add022955be83c192428c248d1c9a1914aff89d9%40%3Cusers.kafka.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6fa1cff4786dcef2ddd1d717836ef123c878e8321c24855bad24ae0f%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r801c68bf987931f35d2e24ecc99f3aa2850fdd8f5ef15fe6c60fecf3%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8890b8f18f1de821595792b58b968a89692a255bc20d86d395270740%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9871a4215b621c1d09deee5eba97f0f44fde01b4363deb1bed0dd160%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc27d424d0bdeaf31081c3e246db3c66e882243ae3f342dfa845e0261%40%3Ccommits.kafka.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rda253155601968331b5cf0da4f273813bbd91843c2568a8495d1c662%40%3Ccommits.kafka.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rde947ee866de6687bc51cdc8dfa6d7e6b3ad4ce8c708c344f773e6dc%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) - [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfe90ca0463c199b99c2921410639aed53a172ea8b733eab0dc776262%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2019-12399? CVE-2019-12399 is a high-severity flaw in Kafka from Apache, published on 14 January 2020. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data. ### How serious is CVE-2019-12399? It scores 7.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2019-12399 is 47 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle. ### Is CVE-2019-12399 being exploited? It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 3.9%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2019-12399 affect? For Kafka from Apache: 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.1.0, 2.1.1, 2.2.0, 2.2.1 and 1 more. The record lists 13 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2019-12399? Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. ## Does CVE-2019-12399 affect you? Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you: - **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website. - **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list. - **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it. - **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools. Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact