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CVE-2019-16278

From Exploited flaws, HARD’s guide to the flaws being used in attacks · Checked
This article is about a flaw in Nostromo nhttpd. For every flaw being used in attacks, see Exploited flaws.

CVE-2019-16278 is a security flaw in Nostromo nhttpd. Attackers can run their own code on Nostromo nhttpd. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 7 Nov 2024.[1]

Nostromo nhttpd is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Nostromo has published a fix or advice.

Description

CISA calls it a directory traversal in Nostromo nhttpd. In its words: “Nostromo nhttpd contains a directory traversal vulnerability in the http_verify() function in a non-chrooted nhttpd server allowing for remote code execution.”[1]

The underlying weakness is path traversal (CWE-22), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]

It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]

Affected versions

NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Nostromo’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Nostromo nhttpd.

Most families won’t have Nostromo nhttpd; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.

Exploitation

CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 7 Nov 2024, 1,851 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 28 Nov 2024 to fix it.[1]

FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 99%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]

CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.

CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.

Fix

Nostromo has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]

  1. Check whether you use it.Nostromo nhttpd is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
  2. Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 28 Nov 2024 to fix it.
  3. If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.

You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.

Timeline

DateEvent
The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2]
CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1]
CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1]
FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 99%.[4]

See also

Other path traversal flaws

  • CVE-2025-61624, Fortinet products: path traversal ·
  • CVE-2021-3199, ONLYOFFICE Docs: server path traversal ·
  • CVE-2026-104286, Fortinet FortiMail: path traversal ·
  • CVE-2026-93616, Check Point products: path traversal ·
  • CVE-2026-66384, JFrog Artifactory: improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ·

Added the same day

  • CVE-2024-5910, Palo Alto Networks Expedition: missing authentication ·
  • CVE-2024-51567, CyberPersons CyberPanel: incorrect default permissions ·
  • CVE-2024-43093, Android Framework: privilege escalation ·

References

  1. ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Nostromo nhttpd Directory Traversal Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 7 Nov 2024.
  2. ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2019-16278 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 14 Oct 2019.
  3. ^ Nostromo. Advisories and fixes: nazgul.ch.
  4. ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.990, percentile 99.9, 31 Oct 2026.
  5. CVE Program. “CVE-2019-16278”. The official CVE record.

This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.