📄 Description (English)
Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Incorrect Access Control Vulnerability — Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager before 3.15.0 has an incorrect access control vulnerability. Exploitation allows for remote code execution.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2019-7238 is a critical incorrect access control vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager versions prior to 3.15.0, carrying a CVSS score of 9.0. The flaw allows unauthenticated or low-privileged remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the repository manager. A public exploit is available, significantly lowering the barrier for threat actors to weaponize this vulnerability. Immediate patching to version 3.15.0 or later is strongly recommended for all affected organizations.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 16, 2026 10:17
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations leveraging DevOps pipelines and software development lifecycles are at significant risk, particularly those in the banking sector (SAMA-regulated entities), government digital transformation initiatives (Vision 2030 projects), and energy sector (Saudi Aramco, SABIC). Nexus Repository Manager is widely used in enterprise software development environments to manage artifacts and dependencies. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to inject malicious code into software supply chains, compromise CI/CD pipelines, and gain persistent access to internal networks. Telecom providers (STC, Mobily, Zain) and healthcare organizations undergoing digital transformation are also at elevated risk. Given the availability of public exploits, nation-state actors and ransomware groups targeting Saudi critical infrastructure could leverage this vulnerability for initial access and lateral movement.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking
Government
Energy
Telecom
Healthcare
Technology
Defense
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all instances of Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager in your environment using asset inventory tools.
2. Isolate vulnerable Nexus instances from public internet access immediately using firewall rules or network segmentation.
3. Review access logs for signs of exploitation (unusual POST requests, unexpected process spawning, outbound connections from Nexus server).
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
4. Upgrade Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager to version 3.15.0 or later immediately.
5. Download the latest version from the official Sonatype website: https://www.sonatype.com/nexus-repository-oss
6. Follow the official upgrade guide and back up configuration and data before upgrading.
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching is delayed):
7. Restrict access to Nexus Repository Manager to trusted IP ranges only via firewall ACLs.
8. Enforce strong authentication and disable anonymous access in Nexus settings.
9. Place a Web Application Firewall (WAF) in front of Nexus to detect and block exploitation attempts.
10. Monitor for exploitation indicators: unusual child processes spawned by Nexus (e.g., cmd.exe, bash, curl, wget), unexpected outbound network connections.
DETECTION RULES:
11. SIEM Rule: Alert on HTTP POST requests to Nexus endpoints containing serialized Java objects or unusual payloads.
12. EDR Rule: Alert on process creation events where parent process is the Nexus JVM (java.exe/java) spawning shell processes.
13. Network Rule: Alert on outbound connections from Nexus server to non-standard ports or external IPs.
14. Review Nexus audit logs for unauthorized administrative actions or configuration changes.
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع نسخ Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager في بيئتك باستخدام أدوات جرد الأصول.
2. عزل نسخ Nexus الضعيفة عن الإنترنت العام فوراً باستخدام قواعد جدار الحماية أو تجزئة الشبكة.
3. مراجعة سجلات الوصول للكشف عن علامات الاستغلال (طلبات POST غير عادية، إنشاء عمليات غير متوقعة، اتصالات صادرة من خادم Nexus).
إرشادات التصحيح:
4. ترقية Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager إلى الإصدار 3.15.0 أو أحدث فوراً.
5. تنزيل أحدث إصدار من الموقع الرسمي لـ Sonatype.
6. اتباع دليل الترقية الرسمي والنسخ الاحتياطي للتكوين والبيانات قبل الترقية.
ضوابط التعويض (في حالة تأخر التصحيح):
7. تقييد الوصول إلى Nexus Repository Manager على نطاقات IP الموثوقة فقط عبر قوائم التحكم في الوصول لجدار الحماية.
8. فرض مصادقة قوية وتعطيل الوصول المجهول في إعدادات Nexus.
9. وضع جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) أمام Nexus للكشف عن محاولات الاستغلال وحجبها.
10. مراقبة مؤشرات الاستغلال: العمليات الفرعية غير العادية التي تنشئها Nexus، الاتصالات الشبكية الصادرة غير المتوقعة.
قواعد الكشف:
11. قاعدة SIEM: تنبيه على طلبات HTTP POST إلى نقاط نهاية Nexus التي تحتوي على كائنات Java متسلسلة أو حمولات غير عادية.
12. قاعدة EDR: تنبيه على أحداث إنشاء العمليات حيث تكون العملية الأصلية هي Nexus JVM وتنشئ عمليات shell.
13. قاعدة الشبكة: تنبيه على الاتصالات الصادرة من خادم Nexus إلى منافذ غير قياسية أو عناوين IP خارجية.
14. مراجعة سجلات تدقيق Nexus للإجراءات الإدارية غير المصرح بها أو تغييرات التكوين.
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC-1-4-2: Cybersecurity Vulnerability Management
ECC-1-3-2: Secure Configuration Management
ECC-2-2-1: Access Control and Identity Management
ECC-1-5-1: Patch Management
ECC-2-3-1: Application Security
🔵 SAMA CSF
3.3.4: Vulnerability Management
3.3.5: Patch Management
3.2.2: Access Control
3.3.6: Penetration Testing
3.4.2: Incident Management
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.8.8: Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.8.2: Privileged access rights
A.8.25: Secure development life cycle
A.8.19: Installation of software on operational systems
A.5.15: Access control
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
Requirement 6.3.3: All system components are protected from known vulnerabilities by installing applicable security patches
Requirement 6.2.4: Software engineering techniques to prevent or mitigate common software attacks
Requirement 7.1: Processes and mechanisms for restricting access to system components
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Sonatype:Nexus Repository Manager