Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability

Exploited · KEV 2021-11-03RansomwareMetasploit moduleCVE-2019-11510CWE-22

Exploited since 2021-11-03. 1 of 8 rule sources name it. Our CRS test: blocked.

Edge rules

1/8

Our test

Blocked

CVSS

9.9

EPSS

100.0% Top 0.1%

Posts, 14d

Published

2019-05-08

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 .

Edge coverage

Claimed by vendors

CloudflareBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: blocked AWSBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: blocked Microsoft AzureRule publishedListed, undated Google CloudBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: blocked FastlyBefore feed historyOlder than its feed F5Before feed historyOlder than its feed AkamaiNo public sourceNo public changelog OWASP CRSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed

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Ask about CVE-2019-11510: who's covered, what to patch first, how vendors compare. I cite sources and won't help with attacks.

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Severity, decoded

CVSS 3.0

9.9Critical

Critical · 9.9 / 10

Exploitable over the network, with low privileges and no user interaction, leading to full loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability, and the impact can reach components beyond the vulnerable one.

Over the internetAny user loginNo user actionWorks reliablySpreads beyond the appFull compromise

How the score is built8 metrics

Attack vectorAn attacker can reach it over the internet; no access to your network needed.
Network
Attack complexityNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Low
Privileges requiredThe attacker needs an ordinary user account.
Low
User interactionNo one has to click or open anything; the attack works on its own.
None
ScopeThe attack can spread beyond the vulnerable component to other parts of the system.
Changed
Confidentiality impactAn attacker can read all data the affected component holds, or the most sensitive parts of it.
High
Integrity impactAn attacker can change any data or files the affected component protects.
High
Availability impactAn attacker can take the component down completely or keep it from serving anyone.
High

CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:L/S:C/UI:N

CISA's assessmentSSVC, from the CVE record

ExploitationActive

Attackers are exploiting this in the wild.

AutomatableYes

Attackers can script the attack end to end and hit many targets at once.

Technical impactTotal

A successful attack gives full control over the affected software or all of its data.

Public exploits

3 found

1 Metasploit1 Exploit-DB1 Scanner template0 GitHub PoCs

MetasploitPulse Secure VPN Arbitrary File Disclosure2019-04-24 · auxiliary · rank Normal
Exploit-DBPulse Secure 8.1R15.1/8.2/8.3/9.0 SSL VPN - Arbitrary File Disclosure (Metasploit)2019-08-21 · webapps · multiple
NucleiCVE-2019-11510.yamldetection template, replayed in our lab

Links are to third-party code: never run it outside an isolated lab.

Timeline

2019-04-24
Metasploit module published
Pulse Secure VPN Arbitrary File Disclosure
2019-05-08
CVE published
CVE List
2019-08-21
Exploit published on Exploit-DB
Pulse Secure 8.1R15.1/8.2/8.3/9.0 SSL VPN - Arbitrary File Disclosure (Metasploit)
2021-11-03
Added to CISA KEV
Confirmed exploitation in the wild
2026-11-02
Our test: OWASP Core Rule Set blocked it
paranoia level 1, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings
2026-11-02
Our test: OWASP Core Rule Set blocked it
paranoia level 2, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings