CVE-2019-18988: TeamViewer Desktop Bypass Remote Login Vulnerability
TeamViewer Desktop through 14.7.1965 allows a bypass of remote-login access control because the same key is used for different customers' installations. It used a shared AES key for all installations since at least as far back as v7.0.43148, and used it for at least OptionsPasswordAES in the current version of the product. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protect information stored in the registry or configuration files of TeamViewer. With versions before v9.x , this allowed for attackers to decrypt the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system as well as headless file browsing). The latest version still uses the same key for OptionPasswordAES but appears to have changed how the Unattended Access password is stored. While in most cases an attacker requires an existing session on a system, if the registry/configuration keys were stored off of the machine (such as in a file share or online), an attacker could then decrypt the required password to login to the system.
Other sources
TeamViewer Desktop allows for bypass of remote-login access control because the same AES key is used for different customers' installations. If an attacker were to know this key, they could decrypt protected information stored in registry or configuration files or decryption of the Unattended Access password to the system (which allows for remote login to the system).
— CISA
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2019-18988?
CVE-2019-18988 is a vulnerability in TeamViewer Desktop that allows a bypass of remote-login access control.
How does CVE-2019-18988 work?
CVE-2019-18988 works by using the same key for different customers' installations in TeamViewer Desktop.
What is the severity of CVE-2019-18988?
CVE-2019-18988 has a severity rating of high, with a severity value of 7.
How can I fix CVE-2019-18988?
To fix CVE-2019-18988, you should update TeamViewer Desktop to a version that includes a patch for the vulnerability.
Where can I find more information about CVE-2019-18988?
You can find more information about CVE-2019-18988 on the TeamViewer Community website and on the official TeamViewer Knowledge Base.