Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-0920 is a Microsoft browser scripting engine flaw that could let an attacker run code after a user opens malicious web content. The impact depends on the user’s privileges; administrator browsing could lead to full system control. Available sources do not show known active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a legacy browser remediation item with moderate urgency. It is not supported by KEV evidence as an active emergency, but unpatched Internet Explorer exposure can still create serious workstation compromise risk.
Technical view
The vulnerability is memory corruption in the Microsoft scripting engine’s object handling. It affects Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11. Attack scenarios include crafted websites, compromised content or ads, and applications or Office documents hosting the browser rendering engine with ActiveX content.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11 remains usable, including legacy line-of-business workflows, kiosks, or compatibility-dependent desktops. Systems where users browse as local administrators carry higher business risk.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector requires network access and user interaction. The bundle marks KEV as false, so active exploitation should not be claimed. The CVSS exploit maturity value indicates proof-of-concept evidence, but the sources provided do not include operational exploit details.
Researcher notes
Focus assessment on reachable legacy IE surfaces and embedded browser-engine use, not only standalone browsing. The vendor states the fix changes scripting engine memory handling. Evidence is incomplete on exact affected builds and real-world exploitation beyond the supplied CVSS exploit maturity signal.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2019-0920.
- Retire or tightly limit Internet Explorer use where possible.
- Restrict legacy browser rendering inside Office documents and embedded applications.
- Reduce routine browsing with local administrator accounts.
- Check current Microsoft guidance for environment-specific update applicability.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints with Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11 enabled.
- Confirm Microsoft’s CVE-2019-0920 security update is installed.
- Identify business applications that host the IE rendering engine.
- Review Office document workflows that allow embedded ActiveX content.
- Validate privileged users are not browsing with administrator rights.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-0920 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Scripting Engine Memory Corruption VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-0920CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-625/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-626/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-627/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-638/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-639/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
