CVE-2019-7238
CVE-2019-7238 is a security flaw in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager. Attackers can run their own code on Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 Dec 2021.[1]
Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager 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. Sonatype has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an incorrect access control in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager. In its words: “Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager before 3.15.0 has an incorrect access control vulnerability. Exploitation allows for remote code execution.”[1]
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; Sonatype’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager.
Most families won’t have Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 Dec 2021, 995 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 10 Jun 2022 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 77%. 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
Sonatype has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager 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.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 10 Jun 2022 to fix it.
- 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
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 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 77%.[4] |
See also
Other Sonatype flaws
- CVE-2020-10199, Sonatype Nexus Repository: remote code execution ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2026-111357, Ivanti Connect Secure: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-97229, GitLab Community Edition and Enterprise Edition: integer overflow or wraparound ·
- CVE-2026-76418, Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software and Cisco Secure FTD Software: unchecked return value to NULL pointer dereference ·
- CVE-2026-48356, Adobe Commerce and Magento: unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type ·
- CVE-2026-111497, Google Brotli: unchecked return value ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2021-44515, Zoho Desktop Central: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2021-44228, Apache Log4j2: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2021-44168, Fortinet FortiOS: arbitrary file download ·
- CVE-2021-35394, Realtek Jungle Software Development Kit (SDK): jungle SDK remote code execution ·
- CVE-2020-8816, Pi-hole AdminLTE: remote code execution ·
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Incorrect Access Control Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 Dec 2021.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2019-7238 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 21 Mar 2019.
- ^ Sonatype. Advisories and fixes: support.sonatype.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.766, percentile 99.5, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2019-7238”. 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.