External risk intelligence

Sangoma FreePBX Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2019-19006

FreePBX is a telephony management system often deployed as an internet-facing appliance or edge gateway to manage VoIP services. Its administrative interface is frequently exposed to the public internet to facilitate remote management and remote extension connectivity, making it a service designed for network accessibility.

Authentication Bypass

Sangoma Freepbx

13.0.0.0 to 13.0.197.1314.0.0.0 to 14.0.13.1115.0.0.0 to 15.0.16.26

Halo Surface Signal: 5 out of 5 — more likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Certain versions of Sangoma FreePBX software contain an access control vulnerability. This flaw allows for unauthorized access to systems. The potential impact includes compromise of confidential data, disruption of services, and unauthorized system modifications.

Vulnerable: Sangoma FreePBX software
Flaw: Incorrect access control
Impact: Unauthorized access and system compromise

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

The identified vulnerability in FreePBX allows for an attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms. This could enable unauthorized access to the system, potentially leading to further compromise. The attack leverages an improper authentication flaw to gain entry without valid credentials.

Exposure through network access.
Attacker bypasses authentication.
Gain control of the system.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability in Sangoma FreePBX presents a significant risk due to its potential for attackers to bypass authentication. Successful exploitation could allow unauthorized access to administrative functions, potentially leading to system compromise and data manipulation. Given the critical severity and the possibility of remote exploitation, organizations using affected versions should treat this as a high-priority issue.

Attackers with low skill level can exploit.
No special access or conditions required.
High business risk and urgent attention needed.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability in Sangoma FreePBX could allow unauthorized access to systems by bypassing authentication. The potential for attackers to gain control of administrative functions presents a significant business risk, potentially leading to data compromise or disruption of services. Organizations should prioritize addressing this issue to protect their telephony infrastructure and associated data.

Identify all FreePBX assets.
Isolate or restrict network access.
Apply vendor updates and verify.
Monitor for related activity.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Sangoma FreePBX and what is it used for?

Sangoma FreePBX is a telephony management system used for voice-over-IP (VoIP) services. It helps manage phone calls, extensions, and other communication features for businesses. It is often deployed as an appliance or gateway to handle a company's phone system needs.

What kind of vulnerability does CVE-2019-19006 represent?

CVE-2019-19006 is an Incorrect Access Control vulnerability. This means it involves flaws in how the software checks permissions, potentially allowing users to do things they shouldn't, like bypassing authentication and accessing administrative functions without proper authorization.

What are the conditions for an attacker to exploit this CVE?

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the FreePBX system. No special access or conditions are required for an attacker, meaning they can attempt exploitation remotely without needing prior access or credentials.

Who needs to be concerned about this CVE in their environment?

Organizations using Sangoma FreePBX, especially those with internet-facing or edge gateway deployments, should be concerned. Since FreePBX's administrative interface is often exposed to the public internet for remote management, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to these externally accessible systems.

What should I do first if I'm running affected FreePBX versions?

The first steps are to identify all instances of FreePBX within your environment, assess their exposure, and restrict network access to them if possible. Applying vendor-provided updates is critical to remediate the vulnerability and protect your telephony infrastructure.

References

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)

Sources: threatActor

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.