CVE-2019-5475: Nexus yum repository plugin OS Command Injection Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g5m7-57ph-j6p8
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-5475 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) os command injection vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Nexus yum repository plugin libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves os command injection in nexus yum repository plugin. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.14.14.

CVE-2019-5475 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-5475
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g5m7-57ph-j6p8
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Nexus yum repository plugin
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2019-5475

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Nexus yum repository plugin dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.sonatype.nexus.plugins:nexus-yum-repository-plugin fixed: 2.14.14 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.sonatype.nexus.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>nexus-yum-repository-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>2.14.14</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus.plugins

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2019-5475, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus.plugins

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Nexus yum repository plugin in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.14.14), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus.plugins command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Nexus yum repository plugin, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The Nexus Yum Repository Plugin in v2 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution when instances using CommandLineExecutor.java are supplied vulnerable data, such as the Yum Configuration Capability.

CVE-2019-5475 Affected Nexus yum repository plugin Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.14.14
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.sonatype.nexus.plugins:nexus-yum-repository-plugin
maven/org.sonatype.nexus.plugins/nexus-yum-repository-plugin
Maven
< 2.14.14
2.14.14

References

NVD — CVE-2019-5475 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5475
hackerone.com/reports/654888 WEB
https://hackerone.com/reports/654888

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-5475?
CVE-2019-5475 is a security vulnerability in Nexus yum repository plugin involving OS Command Injection in Nexus Yum Repository Plugin under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Nexus yum repository plugin versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.14.14 across affected packages: org.sonatype.nexus.plugins:nexus-yum-repository-plugin.
What version fixes CVE-2019-5475?
Upgrading to 2.14.14 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is nexus-yum-repository-plugin affected?
Yes, org.sonatype.nexus.plugins:nexus-yum-repository-plugin is affected in releases prior to 2.14.14. Upgrade your dependency to 2.14.14 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-5475?
CVE-2019-5475 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-5475?
CVE-2019-5475 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2019-5475?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus.plugins'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-g5m7-57ph-j6p8",
  "modified" : "2021-08-17T22:25:20Z",
  "published" : "2019-09-11T23:04:57Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-5475" ],
  "summary" : "OS Command Injection in Nexus Yum Repository Plugin",
  "details" : "The Nexus Yum Repository Plugin in v2 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution when instances using CommandLineExecutor.java are supplied vulnerable data, such as the Yum Configuration Capability.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.sonatype.nexus.plugins:nexus-yum-repository-plugin"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.14.14"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5475"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://hackerone.com/reports/654888"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2019-09-04T14:40:16Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-09-03T20:15:00Z"
  }
}