Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability affects the VLC for Mobile iOS app before 3.1.5. Someone with local authenticated access to the device could bypass VLC's app passcode and access protected app content through a specific device interaction. It is not a remote internet exposure, but it matters where VLC stores sensitive media or documents.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for managed iOS devices that store confidential media or documents in VLC. This is not an internet-scale emergency, but the app passcode should not be trusted on vulnerable versions.
Technical view
CVE-2018-19937 is an authentication bypass in VideoLAN VLC for iOS before 3.1.5, mapped to CWE-287. The CVSS 3.1 vector is AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, reflecting physical access, low complexity, and high impact to VLC-protected content.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to iOS devices running VLC for Mobile versions before 3.1.5, especially where the app passcode protects sensitive files. The source bundle does not identify other affected products or platforms.
Exploitation context
The CVE describes a local, authenticated attacker bypassing the VLC passcode through a URL and device-orientation behavior. There is no KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation in the provided sources.
Researcher notes
The public record provides a concise vulnerability description, CVSS vector, CWE-287 classification, and references to the App Store listing and a VideoLAN iOS commit. It does not provide enterprise prevalence data or confirmed exploitation evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade VLC for Mobile on iOS to version 3.1.5 or later where available.
- Use MDM or app inventory tooling to remove outdated VLC installations.
- Avoid storing sensitive content in vulnerable VLC versions until updated.
- Check current VideoLAN or App Store guidance for supported update paths.
Validation and detection
- Inventory iOS devices for VLC for Mobile versions earlier than 3.1.5.
- Confirm whether VLC app passcodes are used to protect sensitive content.
- Verify updated devices report VLC for Mobile 3.1.5 or later.
- Document any devices that cannot be updated and their compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-287: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-19937 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.75.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.6MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://itunes.apple.com/ms/app/vlc-for-mobile/id650377962?mt=8CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/videolan/vlc-ios/pull/178/commits/d84d7c0a94eb7fba202d2c5fc3739276d2d3986fCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Authentication
Improper Authentication represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.