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CVE Record

CVE-2019-16941: NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, when experimental mode is enabled, allows arbitrary code execution if the Read XM...

NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, when experimental mode is enabled, allows arbitrary code execution if the Read XML Files feature of Bit Patterns Explorer is used with a modified XML document. This occurs in Features/BytePatterns/src/main/java/ghidra/bitpatterns/info/FileBitPatternInfoReader.java. An attack could start with an XML document that was originally created by DumpFunctionPatternInfoScript but then directly modified by an attacker (for example, to make a java.lang.Runtime.exec call).

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-16941 affects NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4 in a specialized, experimental workflow. If an analyst opens a maliciously modified XML file with Bit Patterns Explorer, Ghidra may execute attacker-controlled code. This is serious for reverse-engineering teams, but exposure appears limited to specific feature use.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for teams that use Ghidra for malware analysis or reverse engineering. This is not broad internet-facing exposure, but compromise could execute code on analyst workstations that often handle sensitive samples and tooling.

Technical view

The issue is in FileBitPatternInfoReader.java used by Ghidra's BytePatterns feature. When experimental mode is enabled, Read XML Files can process modified XML derived from DumpFunctionPatternInfoScript output in a way that permits arbitrary Java code execution.

Likely exposure

Likely exposed users are malware analysts, reverse engineers, or security researchers running Ghidra through 9.0.4 with experimental mode enabled and importing XML from untrusted or shared sources. General enterprise exposure is likely low unless Ghidra is part of analysis workflows.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation. The attack depends on a user opening a maliciously modified XML document through a specific experimental feature. Public references include a GitHub issue, vulnerable source location, a fix commit, and a public proof-of-concept repository.

Researcher notes

The CVE record identifies arbitrary code execution through modified XML in Ghidra through 9.0.4. Evidence supports a feature-specific local file handling risk. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, complete affected CPEs, or confirmation of exploitation in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Ghidra beyond affected versions using NSA project guidance.
  • Disable experimental mode where the affected feature is not required.
  • Do not import Bit Patterns XML from untrusted sources.
  • Treat shared analysis XML files as executable-risk content.
  • Review the NSA fix commit and release notes before rollout.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Ghidra versions used by analysis and security teams.
  • Check whether experimental mode is enabled in analyst environments.
  • Confirm whether Bit Patterns Explorer Read XML Files is used.
  • Review file intake procedures for untrusted XML analysis artifacts.
  • Verify the fix is present after upgrading Ghidra.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

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

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2019-16941 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
7Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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