NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, when experimental mode is enabled, allows arbitrary code execution if the Read XML Files feature of Bit Patterns Explorer is used with a modified XML document
Published Sep 28, 2019
9.8
CRITICALCVSS 3.1
EPSS 5.13%
Description
NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, when experimental mode is enabled, allows arbitrary code execution if the Read XML Files feature of Bit Patterns Explorer is used with a modified XML document. This occurs in Features/BytePatterns/src/main/java/ghidra/bitpatterns/info/FileBitPatternInfoReader.java. An attack could start with an XML document that was originally created by DumpFunctionPatternInfoScript but then directly modified by an attacker (for example, to make a java.lang.Runtime.exec call).
Affected products
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 3, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (19 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026 | 5.13% (0.05133) | 92.15th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 5.13% (0.05133) | 91.29th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 22.86% (0.22862) | 95.41th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 43.78% (0.43782) | 96.33th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | 22.86% (0.22862) | 95.41th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 27, 2025 | 43.78% (0.43782) | 97.08th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 20, 2025 | 32.89% (0.32891) | 96.53th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 43.78% (0.43782) | 97.12th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 32.89% (0.32891) | 96.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 1.70% (0.01702) | 88.27th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 4, 2023 | 1.38% (0.01384) | 84.69th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 1.21% (0.01214) | 83.10th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 21.30% (0.21296) | 96.56th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 21.30% (0.21296) | 96.25th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 21.30% (0.21296) | 94.16th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 87.57th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 87.43th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 95.05th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (6)
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/blob/79d8f164f8bb8b15cfb60c5d4faeb8e1c25d15ca/Ghidra/Features/BytePatterns/src/main/java/ghidra/bitpatterns/info/FileBitPatternInfoReader.java#L187-L188 x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/commit/a17728f8c12effa171b17a25ccfb7e7d9528c5d0 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/issues/1090 x_refsource_MISCExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/purpleracc00n/CVE-2019-16941 x_refsource_MISC
- https://twitter.com/NSAGov/status/1178812792159248385 x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.symantec.com/security-center/vulnerabilities/writeup/110223?om_rssid=sr-advisories x_refsource_MISC
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/blob/79d8f164f8bb8b15cfb60c5d4faeb8e1c25d15ca/Ghidra/Features/BytePatterns/src/main/java/ghidra/bitpatterns/info/FileBitPatternInfoReader.java#L187-L188 | x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory | |
| https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/commit/a17728f8c12effa171b17a25ccfb7e7d9528c5d0 | x_refsource_MISC | |
| https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/issues/1090 | x_refsource_MISCExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://github.com/purpleracc00n/CVE-2019-16941 | x_refsource_MISC | |
| https://twitter.com/NSAGov/status/1178812792159248385 | x_refsource_MISC | |
| https://www.symantec.com/security-center/vulnerabilities/writeup/110223?om_rssid=sr-advisories | x_refsource_MISC |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.