CVE-2019-8978 [High] | Authentication Bypass in Banner Enterprise Identit…

An improper authentication vulnerability can be exploited through a race condition that occurs in Ellucian Banner Web Tailor 8.8.3, 8.8.4, and 8.9 and Banner Enterprise Identity Services 8.3, 8.3.1, 8.3.2, and 8.4, in conjunction with SSO Manager. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to steal a victim's session (and cause a denial of service) by repeatedly requesting the initial Banner Web Tailor main page with the IDMSESSID cookie set to the victim's UDCID, which in the case tested is the institutional ID. During a login attempt by a victim, the attacker can leverage the race condition and will be issued the SESSID that was meant for this victim.

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2026-06-15	8.27%	5.86%	-2.41%
2	2026-05-23	11.77%	8.27%	-3.50%
3	2026-04-14	—	11.77%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2026-06-15

8.27%

5.86%

-2.41%

2026-05-23

11.77%

8.27%

-3.50%

2026-04-14

—

11.77%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
8.1	3.0	HIGH	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:H) Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	2.2	5.9	[email protected]
6.8	2.0	MEDIUM	`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P` Click to expand Access vector (AV:N) Can be exploited remotely over network reachability. Access complexity (AC:M) Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones. Authentication (AU:N) No authentication is required. Confidentiality impact (C:P) Partial confidentiality impact. Integrity impact (I:P) Partial integrity impact. Availability impact (A:P) Partial availability impact.	8.6	6.4	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

8.1

3.0

HIGH

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H): Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H): Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H): They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

2.2

5.9

[email protected]

6.8

2.0

MEDIUM

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P Click to expand

Access vector (AV:N): Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M): Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:N): No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P): Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:P): Partial integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P): Partial availability impact.

8.6

6.4

[email protected]

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2019-8978

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
ellucian	banner_enterprise_identity_services	8.3	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_enterprise_identity_services:8.3:::::::*
ellucian	banner_enterprise_identity_services	8.3.1	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_enterprise_identity_services:8.3.1:::::::*
ellucian	banner_enterprise_identity_services	8.3.2	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_enterprise_identity_services:8.3.2:::::::*
ellucian	banner_enterprise_identity_services	8.4	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_enterprise_identity_services:8.4:::::::*
ellucian	banner_web_tailor	8.8.3	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_web_tailor:8.8.3:::::::*
ellucian	banner_web_tailor	8.8.4	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_web_tailor:8.8.4:::::::*
ellucian	banner_web_tailor	8.9	cpe:2.3:a:ellucian:banner_web_tailor:8.9:::::::*

References for CVE-2019-8978

URL	Tags
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152856/Ellucian-Banner-Web-Tailor-Banner-Enterprise-Identity-Services-Improper-Authentication.html	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/May/18	Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://ecommunities.ellucian.com/message/252749#252749	Permissions Required
https://ecommunities.ellucian.com/message/252810#252810	Permissions Required
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JoshuaMulliken/CVE-2019-8978/master/README.txt	Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/May/31	Mailing List Third Party Advisory

URL

CVE-2019-8978

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2019-8978

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2019-8978

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2019-8978

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2019-8978

References for CVE-2019-8978