CVE-2019-18935 Progress Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
Progress Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability through RadAsyncUpload which leads to code execution on the server in the context of the w3wp.exe process.
From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.
Should You Worry?
- CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
- CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
- It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
What It Is
Progress Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX through 2019.3.1023 contains a .NET deserialization vulnerability in the RadAsyncUpload function. This is exploitable when the encryption keys are known due to the presence of CVE-2017-11317 or CVE-2017-11357, or other means. Exploitation can result in remote code execution. (As of 2020.1.114, a default setting prevents the exploit. In 2019.3.1023, but not earlier versions, a non-default setting can prevent exploitation.)
What To Do Now
- 1
Find it
Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Progress Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.
Attack Surface Management - 2
- 3
Hunt for compromise
If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.
Incident Response - 4
Prove it is fixed
Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.
Penetration Testing
Vendor Advisories
The Compliance Clock
General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.
Not Sure If You Are Exposed?
Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2019-18935 and every other exploited flaw on the list.
Sources
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
- NVD: CVE-2019-18935
- CVE record: CVE-2019-18935
- FIRST EPSS
- telerik.com/support/whats-new/release-history
- codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2019/02/telerik-revisited.html
- telerik.com/support/kb/aspnet-ajax/details/allows-javascriptserializer-deserialization
- github.com/bao7uo/RAU_crypto
- know.bishopfox.com/research/cve-2019-18935-remote-code-execution-in-telerik-ui
- github.com/noperator/CVE-2019-18935
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/155720/Telerik-UI-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- telerik.com/support/whats-new/aspnet-ajax/release-history/ui-for-asp-net-ajax-r1-2020-%28version-202
