LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2019-12659: Cisco IOS XE Software HTTP Server Denial of Service Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the HTTP server code of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the HTTP server to crash. The vulnerability is due to a logical error in the logging mechanism. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by generating a high amount of long-lived connections to the HTTP service on the device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the HTTP server to crash.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This issue can let an unauthenticated remote actor crash the HTTP server on affected Cisco IOS XE devices. The device itself is not described as fully compromised, but management or web-based service availability can be disrupted.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate availability risk for Cisco network infrastructure. Prioritize exposed management interfaces, because disruption to device HTTP services can impair operations and response workflows.

Technical view

CVE-2019-12659 is a denial-of-service flaw in Cisco IOS XE HTTP server logging logic. A large volume of long-lived HTTP connections can trigger an HTTP server crash. CVSS v3.0 is 5.3, network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges, availability-only impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where Cisco IOS XE Software 3.2.0JA runs with the HTTP service reachable by untrusted networks. The source bundle names only this affected version entry.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The described attack requires network reachability to the device HTTP service but no authentication.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to CVE metadata and the Cisco advisory reference in the bundle. Do not assume broader affected versions, compromise impact, exploit availability, or specific patches without reviewing Cisco guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Cisco advisory for fixed software and official workarounds.
  • Restrict HTTP service reachability to trusted management networks.
  • Disable unnecessary HTTP management exposure where operationally feasible.
  • Prioritize remediation for internet-reachable or broadly reachable devices.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Cisco IOS XE devices and identify version 3.2.0JA.
  • Confirm whether the HTTP service is enabled and reachable.
  • Check whether exposure exists from untrusted or internet-facing networks.
  • Review monitoring for unexplained HTTP server crashes or availability drops.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

CWE-399: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2019-12659 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L3.91.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2019-12659Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoCisco IOS XE Software 3.2.0JAunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-399

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-399 · source CWE mapping

Resource Management Errors

Resource Management Errors represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs