LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2019-1038: Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Microsoft browsers access objects in memory. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in a way that could allow an attacker to 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, the attacker 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. An attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability through Microsoft browsers, and then convince a user to view the website. The attacker could also take advantage of compromised websites, or websites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements, by adding specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerability. In all cases, however, an attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically via an enticement in email or instant message, or by getting them to open an email attachment. The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how Microsoft browsers handle objects in memory.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-1038 is a Microsoft browser memory corruption flaw that could let a malicious website run code as the signed-in user. The highest business risk is on legacy endpoints where users browse with Internet Explorer or EdgeHTML Edge, especially with administrator rights.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for legacy-browser environments, not a broad emergency for fully patched modern browser fleets. Prioritize patch verification, legacy browser retirement, and reducing administrator browsing risk.

Technical view

The vulnerability affects Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 11, and EdgeHTML-based Microsoft Edge. It is network-reachable through browser content, requires user interaction, requires no privileges, and can impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft says the update changes how browsers handle objects in memory.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on older Windows systems or compatibility environments still using Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 11, or EdgeHTML-based Microsoft Edge without the relevant Microsoft security update.

Exploitation context

The source describes web and social-engineering delivery through crafted, compromised, or user-content websites. The bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates proof-of-concept exploit maturity, but evidence is incomplete beyond that.

Researcher notes

The provided CVSS is 7.5 with AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C. User interaction and high attack complexity reduce exploitability, but successful exploitation can execute arbitrary code as the current user.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2019-1038.
  • Retire or tightly limit Internet Explorer and EdgeHTML-based Edge usage.
  • Avoid browsing from accounts with local administrator rights.
  • Check current Microsoft guidance for platform-specific update availability.
  • Reduce exposure to untrusted web content on legacy browser systems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems running Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 11, or EdgeHTML Edge.
  • Verify CVE-2019-1038 remediation is installed through approved patch records.
  • Confirm legacy browsers are not default browsers for general web access.
  • Review privileged-user workstations for unnecessary legacy browser use.
  • Do not assume exploitation without separate telemetry or incident evidence.
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-2019-1038 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
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/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
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C1.65.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2019-1038Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/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
MicrosoftInternet Explorer 101.0.0Listed
MicrosoftInternet Explorer 111.0.0Listed
MicrosoftMicrosoft Edge (EdgeHTML-based)1.0..0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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