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

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via improper input validation in the MSHTML engine affecting Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Jan 2019
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f832-7fhg-m78h

## What is CVE-2019-0541?

CVE-2019-0541 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Excel Viewer, published on 8 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-0541?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Microsoft Excel Viewer, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office 365 Proplus, Microsoft Office Word Viewer.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-0541?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-0541 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2019-0541 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2019-0541 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows MSHTML Engine - 'Edit' Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel Viewer

- [CVE-2015-2424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2424/): Microsoft PowerPoint Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-3906](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3906/): Microsoft Graphics Component Memory Corruption (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2008-0113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-0113/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2018-8432](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8432/): Memory corruption in Microsoft Excel Viewer (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-0540](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0540/): Security feature bypass in Microsoft Excel Viewer (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-0541 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-0541 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Excel Viewer, published on 8 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2019-0541 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: Microsoft Excel Viewer. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0541/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0541/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-0541
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-0541
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-0541

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0541/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.