Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited
CVE-2024-38178: Microsoft Windows Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
CISA KEV · added 2024-08-13 CVSS 7.5 High EPSS 41.4% · p99
Should you act?
Exploited: patch now if you run it
CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Yes, if you run Microsoft Windows. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-08-13, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2024-09-03; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 41.4%, percentile 99: FIRST’s model estimates a 41.4% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs a user to click or open something. Phishing makes that realistic, but it is not wormable.
What it is
Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
CISA’s summary
Microsoft Windows Scripting Engine contains a memory corruption vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attacker to initiate remote code execution via a specially crafted URL.
Weakness type: CWE-843.
Product: Microsoft Windows · Assigned by: microsoft · Published: 2024-08-13
Affected and fixed versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows 11 Version 24H2 | 10.0.26100.0 < 10.0.26100.1457 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 | 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.6189 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.6189 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.6189 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2022 | 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.2655 |
| Microsoft | Windows 11 version 21H2 | 10.0.0 < 10.0.22000.3147 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 21H2 | 10.0.19043.0 < 10.0.19044.4780 |
| Microsoft | Windows 11 version 22H2 | 10.0.22621.0 < 10.0.22621.4037 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 22H2 | 10.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.4780 |
| Microsoft | Windows 11 version 22H3 | 10.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.4037 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| microsoft | 3.1 | 7.5 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: high (needs special conditions)
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: required (a user must click/open something)
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: added 2024-08-13; federal due date 2024-09-03. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 41.38% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.
Timeline
- — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- — CVE record published by microsoft
- — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability msrc.microsoft.com
Vulnerability records
- CVE.org record CVE-2024-38178 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2024-38178 nvd.nist.gov
Government
All exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities · Today’s Security Digest