CVE-2019-15877

Unauthorized device NVM writes via unchecked ioctl

Published Apr 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Missing authorization in FreeBSD 12.1's ixl network driver allows local users to modify supported adapters' non-volatile memory. The driver-specific ioctl handler forwards NVM update commands without first performing the required privilege check. Exploitation requires a local unprivileged account and a system using the ixl driver with compatible Intel Ethernet hardware; the bounded result is unauthorized device NVM modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in FreeBSD 12.1's ixl network driver allows local users to modify supported adapters' non-volatile memory. The driver-specific ioctl handler forwards NVM update commands without first performing the required privilege check. Exploitation requires a local unprivileged account and a system using the ixl driver with compatible Intel Ethernet hardware; the bounded result is unauthorized device NVM modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-15877
Published
Apr 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
The FreeBSD Project
Product
FreeBSD
Classifications
CWE-862, T1495
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 28, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=12.1-STABLE before r356606, 12.1-RELEASE before 12.1-RELEASE-p3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The FreeBSD Project · FreeBSDversion=12.1-STABLE before r356606, 12.1-RELEASE before 12.1-RELEASE-p3

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1495Firmware Corruption

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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