LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2019-0989: Chakra Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Chakra scripting engine handles objects in memory in Microsoft Edge (HTML-based). The vulnerability could corrupt memory in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability through Microsoft Edge (HTML-based) and then convince a user to view the website. The attacker could also take advantage of compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements. These websites could contain specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerability. The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the Chakra scripting engine handles objects in memory.

MediumCVSS 4.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-0989 is a browser scripting-engine flaw in Microsoft Edge using EdgeHTML. A user who visits malicious or compromised web content could have code run under their Windows account. Business impact depends heavily on whether legacy EdgeHTML or ChakraCore remains in use and whether users browse with administrator rights.

Executive priority

Treat this as a legacy-browser exposure issue, not a broad modern-browser emergency. Prioritize patch verification and removal of EdgeHTML-era dependencies, especially on privileged-user workstations. No active exploitation is cited in the provided sources.

Technical view

The issue is memory corruption in Chakra object handling. Successful exploitation can allow remote code execution in the current user's context through crafted web content. The CVSS 3.1 score is 4.2 with network attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in legacy environments that still use Microsoft Edge EdgeHTML-based or ChakraCore. The source bundle does not list Chromium-based Microsoft Edge as affected. Risk is higher on systems where users browse untrusted sites, view user-generated content or ads, or operate with elevated rights.

Exploitation context

Microsoft describes a web-based attack where an attacker hosts crafted content or abuses compromised sites, user-provided content, or advertisements. User interaction is required. The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation; the CVSS temporal vector indicates proof-of-concept maturity.

Researcher notes

The public bundle names Microsoft Edge EdgeHTML-based and ChakraCore, but does not provide detailed version ranges, patch KBs, exploit samples, or affected platform mapping. Validation should stay focused on product presence, update status, and user-right context.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the Microsoft security update referenced by MSRC for affected systems.
  • Check MSRC guidance for the exact supported update mapping.
  • Reduce or eliminate use of EdgeHTML-based Microsoft Edge where possible.
  • Limit administrator rights for users who browse the web.
  • Review any ChakraCore dependency against vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems using Microsoft Edge EdgeHTML-based or ChakraCore.
  • Verify the relevant Microsoft security update is installed.
  • Confirm users do not routinely browse with administrator rights.
  • Check whether legacy EdgeHTML usage is still operationally required.
  • Document unsupported or unpatched systems for risk acceptance or remediation.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

description · low confidence lookup

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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2019-0989 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.2 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
4.2CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C1.62.5Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.2Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2019-0989Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
MicrosoftMicrosoft Edge (EdgeHTML-based)1.0..0Listed
MicrosoftChakraCore0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.