# CVE-2019-19781: Citrix ADC - Path Traversal

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2019-19781 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2019-19781

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Citrix ADC
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'))
- **Tags:** enterprise_software

## Description

An issue was discovered in Citrix Application Delivery Controller (ADC) and Gateway 10.5, 11.1, 12.0, 12.1, and 13.0. They allow Directory Traversal.

## CrowdSec analysis

A Path Traversal Vulnerability, [CVE-2019-19781](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2019-19781) has been identified in Citrix Application Delivery Controller (ADC) and Gateway versions 10.5 through 13.0, allowing attackers to exploit directory traversal flaws. This vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories outside the intended web root, potentially leading to information disclosure or further system compromise.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 25th of June 2025.

According to CrowdSec data, while opportunistic exploitation dominates, a portion of threat actors trying to exploit CVE-2019-19781 apply basic targeting methods such as port or service detection. This indicates emerging patterns of selective targeting.
Additionally, according to week-over-week analysis by CrowdSec, exploitation of CVE-2019-19781 is surging. Attack volumes are spiking well above historical norms, indicating widespread and escalating interest from threat actors. CVE-2019-19781 is currently experiencing high visibility and active exploitation across the internet.

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by sending requests with directory traversal sequences like `/vpn/../vpns/cfg/smb.conf` to access sensitive configuration files on Citrix ADC and Gateway devices.

## Timeline

- 2019-12-27: CVE Published. CVE-2019-19781 is published to NVD.
- 2021-11-03: CISA KEV. CVE-2019-19781 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2022-05-03: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2025-06-25: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2019-19781 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-06-25: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2019-19781 for the first time.

## References

- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/619785
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-19781.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2019-19781) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2019-19781. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.