Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2019-0541
The short answer
CVE-2019-0541 affects Microsoft Microsoft Office and is rated high (CVSS 8.8). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03: attackers are using it, so patch it first. The vendor has linked a patch.
What it is
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the MSHTML engine inproperly validates input, aka "MSHTML Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Word Viewer, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Excel Viewer, Internet Explorer 10, Office 365 ProPlus.
Weakness: CWE-77.
Severity
8.8 high
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Nov 3, 2021
Federal due date May 3, 2022
EPSS, next 30 days
53%
Higher than 99% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
What CISA says to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected products
Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Word Viewer, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Excel Viewer, Internet Explorer 10, Office. NVD's record lists the exact affected versions.
References
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-0541 PatchVendor Advisory
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46536/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-0541 PatchVendor Advisory
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46536/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-0541 US Government Resource
Questions
Is CVE-2019-0541 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2019-0541 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03, with a federal remediation due date of 2022-05-03.
How do I fix CVE-2019-0541?
CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
From NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and OSV.dev, checked . Status on NVD: Analyzed. The description is NVD's text, quoted as published.
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