Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-19251 concerns the Last.fm desktop app for macOS through 2.1.39 sending requests over HTTP with an API key. Because SSL/TLS is optional and disabled by default, the app exposes data on the network as soon as it starts.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted desktop hygiene issue, not an enterprise-wide emergency. Prioritize organizations with managed macOS fleets, sensitive network environments, or users who install legacy media applications.
Technical view
The issue is insecure transport: Last.fm Scrobbler on macOS through 2.1.39 makes cleartext HTTP requests containing an API key. The source states an Enable SSL option exists but is not enabled by default, so startup traffic can occur without TLS protection.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to macOS systems running Last.fm Scrobbler through version 2.1.39, especially where the default SSL setting remains disabled or users connect on shared, public, or monitored networks.
Exploitation context
No provided source or KEV entry confirms active exploitation. Practical risk depends on an attacker or monitoring system having network visibility over the cleartext HTTP traffic. The bundle does not describe public exploit tooling or observed abuse.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies transport security weakness but lacks CVSS, CWE, detailed affected CPEs, fix version, and exploit evidence. Validate exposure through endpoint inventory and vendor documentation rather than assuming all Last.fm clients are affected.
Mitigation direction
- Check vendor guidance and current Last.fm client availability before making production decisions.
- Enable SSL/TLS in the client if the option is present.
- Upgrade or replace affected clients if a fixed version is available.
- Avoid using affected clients on untrusted or shared networks.
- Remove unsupported Last.fm Scrobbler installations where business need is low.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS endpoints for Last.fm Scrobbler installations.
- Confirm installed versions are not 2.1.39 or earlier.
- Review client settings to verify SSL/TLS is enabled.
- Assess whether affected hosts use public or shared networks.
- Check network monitoring for cleartext Last.fm API traffic.
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.
CVE-2019-19251 mapping review
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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://getsatisfaction.com/lastfm/topics/why-doesnt-the-macos-client-enable-ssl-by-default-c1nh5k1s054akCVE 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.