Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a FreeBSD kernel memory-safety flaw in the cryptodev module. On affected FreeBSD 11.3 and 12.1 builds, an unprivileged local process could overwrite arbitrary kernel memory. That makes it a serious local exposure issue for systems hosting users, shells, services, or workloads that may run untrusted code.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority patching item for FreeBSD hosts with local user access, shared workloads, or exposed service execution paths. No active exploitation is evidenced in the bundle, but the kernel memory overwrite impact is serious.
Technical view
CVE-2019-15879 is a race condition in FreeBSD cryptodev causing use-after-free of a kernel data structure. Affected versions are 12.1-STABLE before r356908, 12.1-RELEASE before p5, 11.3-STABLE before r356908, and 11.3-RELEASE before p9.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to FreeBSD systems in the listed vulnerable branches where local unprivileged processes can run. The bundle also cites a NetApp advisory, but does not identify affected NetApp products here.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The described attack context is local: an unprivileged process on the affected host abuses the race condition to corrupt kernel memory.
Researcher notes
Evidence is clear on affected FreeBSD versions and bug class, but incomplete on CVSS, CWE mapping, proof-of-concept status, and NetApp product scope. Avoid assuming remote exploitability or active exploitation from this bundle alone.
Mitigation direction
- Update FreeBSD 12.1-RELEASE to p5 or later.
- Update FreeBSD 11.3-RELEASE to p9 or later.
- Update FreeBSD STABLE branches to r356908 or later.
- Check the FreeBSD advisory for supported branch guidance.
- Review the NetApp advisory for any vendor-specific affected systems.
- Prioritize systems running untrusted local users or workloads.
Validation and detection
- Inventory FreeBSD hosts and record branch, release, and patch level.
- Compare versions against r356908, 12.1-RELEASE-p5, and 11.3-RELEASE-p9.
- Identify systems where local unprivileged users or workloads can execute code.
- Review whether cryptodev is present or enabled on exposed hosts.
- Check NetApp-managed assets against the cited NetApp advisory.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
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.
CVE-2019-15879 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
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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 and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-20:15.cryptodev.ascCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200518-0005/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.