CVE-2019-19230
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an unsafe deserialization vulnerability in CA Release Automation (Nolio) that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability exists in the DataManagement component and affects organizations using CA Nolio 6.6 for release automation. Attackers can exploit this to gain complete control over vulnerable systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- CA Release Automation (Nolio)
📦 What is this software?
Nolio by Broadcom
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive data, deploy ransomware, pivot to other systems, and maintain persistent access.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to data exfiltration, installation of backdoors, and disruption of release automation processes.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation, strict access controls, and monitoring are in place to detect and block exploitation attempts.
🎯 Exploit Status
Public exploit code is available, making exploitation trivial for attackers. The vulnerability requires no authentication and has a simple exploitation path.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Apply the patch referenced in CA20191209-01 security notice
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Review Broadcom security notice CA20191209-01. 2. Download the official patch from Broadcom support. 3. Apply the patch following vendor instructions. 4. Restart the CA Nolio services. 5. Verify the patch was applied successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate CA Nolio systems from untrusted networks and restrict access to only trusted administrative IPs.
Use firewall rules to block all external access to CA Nolio ports
Implement network segmentation to isolate the system
Disable Unnecessary Components
allDisable or restrict access to the DataManagement component if not required for operations.
Review component dependencies and disable DataManagement if not essential
Configure access controls to limit who can interact with the component
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Immediately isolate the system from all untrusted networks and implement strict firewall rules
- Implement application-level monitoring and intrusion detection specifically for deserialization attacks
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if running CA Nolio version 6.6. Review system logs for deserialization errors or suspicious DataManagement component activity.Check Version:
Check CA Nolio administration console or configuration files for version information specific to your deployment method.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the patch version has been applied by checking the software version against the patched version in the vendor advisory. Monitor for absence of exploitation attempts.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual deserialization errors in application logs
- Suspicious Java object deserialization attempts
- Unexpected process execution from CA Nolio services
Network Indicators:
- Unusual network traffic to/from CA Nolio DataManagement ports
- Malformed serialized objects in network traffic
SIEM Query:
source="ca_nolio_logs" AND ("deserialization" OR "DataManagement" OR "java.io.InvalidClassException")🔗 References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/155631/CA-Nolio-6.6-Arbitrary-Code-Execution.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Dec/16
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Dec/16
- https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/product-content/recommended-reading/security-notices/ca20191209-01-security-notice-for-ca-nolio-release-automation.html?r=2
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/155631/CA-Nolio-6.6-Arbitrary-Code-Execution.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Dec/16
- https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Dec/16
- https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/product-content/recommended-reading/security-notices/ca20191209-01-security-notice-for-ca-nolio-release-automation.html?r=2
