CVE-2019-0541: Microsoft MSHTML Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Is it exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 3 Nov 2021, 1,030 days after the CVE record was published.

How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?

53.2%

EPSS score, percentile 99 of all scored records

How severe?

8.8 High

CVSS v3.1 base score, from CISA's enrichment of the record

What should I do?

Required action (CISA), due 3 May 2022: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.

Which versions are affected?

Affected: 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions); 2010 Service Pack 2 (64-bit editions); 2013 RT Service Pack 1; 2013 Service Pack 1 (32-bit editions); 2013 Service Pack 1 (64-bit editions); 2016 (32-bit edition); 2016 (64-bit edition); 2019 for 32-bit editions; 2019 for 64-bit editions; Microsoft Office Word Viewer; Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2; Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2; Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems; Windows 10 for x64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems; Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems; Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; Windows 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; Windows 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems; 2007 Service Pack 3; Windows Server 2012; 365 ProPlus for 32-bit Systems; 365 ProPlus for 64-bit Systems

Versions by product

Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.

What to do

CISA due date for this action: 3 May 2022.

Advisories and patches

The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.

Linked from CISA's catalog entry

• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0541

Affected products and versions

As listed in the CVE record.

And 12 more version entries in the CVE record.

Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.

About this vulnerability

Microsoft MSHTML engine contains an improper input validation vulnerability that allows for remote code execution vulnerability.

Summary: CISA's KEV catalog, as of 28 Oct 2026.

• CISA added CVE-2019-0541 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 3 Nov 2021.
• CISA's ransomware flag for this entry is "Unknown": no evidence of ransomware use in the catalog, which is not proof of none.
• The due date CISA sets for the required action is 3 May 2022.
• The CVE record was published on 8 Jan 2019, 1,030 days before it was added to KEV.
• The CVE record carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (High), taken from CISA's enrichment of the record.
• FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 53.2% (percentile 99), as of 28 Oct 2026.
• CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.

Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.

Description

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.

Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.

Weakness

• CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')

CWE and CAPEC are maintained by MITRE; the entries are those named in the CVE record and the KEV entry.

Timeline

References

• 46536 (Exploit)
• 106402 (Vulnerability database)
• portal.msrc.microsoft.com

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• CVE-2026-85880: Microsoft Windows Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (added 8 Sep 2026)
• CVE-2019-1068: Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (added 26 Aug 2026)
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