CVE-2019-0676: Internet Explorer memory handling information disclosure

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 17 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

high priorityIt is in CISA's KEV catalog with confirmed in-the-wild exploitation, but the direct impact is limited to file existence disclosure rather than code execution.

What it is

Internet Explorer mishandles objects in memory, allowing an attacker to probe for the presence of files on the victim's disk. The flaw is an information disclosure issue, not code execution, but it leaks local file existence that can support later targeted attacks. Microsoft rates it medium severity with a network vector and required user interaction.

Impact

An attacker can determine whether specific files exist on the target's disk, which aids reconnaissance and follow-on exploitation. No data modification or code execution is gained directly from this flaw.

Attack surface

Reached over the network via a crafted web page or content rendered in Internet Explorer; the CVSS vector shows no privileges required but user interaction is required. The victim must open or view attacker-controlled content in the browser.

Exploitation

CVE-2019-0676 is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating exploitation in the wild, though no ransomware use is documented. EPSS gives a 30-day probability of about 7.5 percent (94th percentile), and references include a vendor patch advisory.

What to do

• Apply the Microsoft security update referenced in the MSRC advisory for CVE-2019-0676.
• Retire or disable Internet Explorer where possible and move users to a supported browser.
• Enforce attachment and web content filtering to reduce exposure to crafted pages.
• Restrict browsing to trusted sites and block untrusted ActiveX or script content in IE.
• Track CISA KEV remediation deadlines and confirm patching across all endpoints.

Detection

• Monitor for Internet Explorer crashes or unusual memory-related error events on endpoints.
• Review proxy and web logs for IE user agents accessing suspicious or newly registered domains.
• Hunt for processes reading file metadata or probing file paths from within IE or its child processes.
• Correlate IE usage with subsequent reconnaissance or file access activity on the same host.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.