Which products and versions are affected by CVE-2019-0541?

Affected: Excel Viewer (Microsoft) versions 2007-sp3, >= 2007 Service Pack 3; Internet Explorer (Microsoft) versions 10, 11, 9; Office (Microsoft) versions 2010-sp2, 2013-sp1, 2016, 2019, >= 365 ProPlus for 32-bit Systems, >= 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.

Is CVE-2019-0541 being exploited in the wild?

It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 3, 2021.

Is CVE-2019-0541 in the CISA KEV catalog?

Yes. It was added on Nov 3, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of May 3, 2022.

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2019-0541?

Public exploit code is available.

Is there a fix for CVE-2019-0541?

No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

How urgently should CVE-2019-0541 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2019-0541

HighExploitedPublic exploit

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…

Published Jan 8, 2019 · Updated Oct 29, 2025

Key Facts

Patch immediately

CVE-2019-0541 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Excel Viewer (Microsoft), Internet Explorer (Microsoft), Office (Microsoft) and 5 more products.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 3, 2021. Public exploit code is available.
EPSS estimates a 53% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

8.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

53%

Higher than 98.9% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2019-0541 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

Catalog	Added	Remediation due	Ransomware use
CISA KEV	Nov 3, 2021	May 3, 2022	Not reported
Industry KEV feed	Nov 3, 2021	May 3, 2022	Not reported
CIRCL KEV	Nov 3, 2021	May 3, 2022	Not reported
ENISA EUVD	Nov 3, 2021	n/a	Not reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

18 affected entries in total

Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
Excel ViewerMicrosoft	2007-sp3, >= 2007 Service Pack 3	n/a
Internet ExplorerMicrosoft	10, 11, 9	n/a
OfficeMicrosoft	2010-sp2, 2013-sp1, 2016, 2019, >= 365 ProPlus for 32-bit Systems, >= 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions)	n/a
Office 365 ProplusMicrosoft	See advisory	n/a
Office Word ViewerMicrosoft	>= Microsoft Office Word Viewer	n/a

3 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Timeline

Publicly disclosed
Jan 8, 2019
Added to CISA KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to Industry KEV feed
Nov 3, 2021
Added to CIRCL KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to ENISA EUVD
Nov 3, 2021
Last updated
Oct 29, 2025

Weakness Type

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

References

advisory106402
patchhttps://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-0541
exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
exploitExploitDB-46536
exploit46536

1 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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, Offic…
Affected: Excel Viewer (Microsoft) versions 2007-sp3, >= 2007 Service Pack 3; Internet Explorer (Microsoft) versions 10, 11, 9; Office (Microsoft) versions 2010-sp2, 2013-sp1, 2016, 2019, >= 365 ProPlus for 32-bit Systems, >= 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Nov 3, 2021.
Yes. It was added on Nov 3, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of May 3, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

Is CVE-2019-0541 Running On Your Attack Surface?

Brandefense maps vulnerabilities like this one to your internet-facing assets and tells you exactly where to patch.