Microsoft Security
CVE-2016-0189 - VBScript engine memory corruption: This exploit was…
2 passages name itOriginal (opens in a new tab) ↗
CVE-2016-0189 KEVRansomwarePublic exploit High · 7.5 EPSS 94.1%
Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Microsoft · Internet Explorer
Summary
A memory corruption flaw in the JScript 5.8 and VBScript 5.7/5.8 scripting engines, as used in Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and other Microsoft products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service. Exploitation requires a victim to visit a crafted web page, meaning no authentication is needed but user interaction is.
Official description · NVD
The Microsoft (1) JScript 5.8 and (2) VBScript 5.7 and 5.8 engines, as used in Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and other products, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0187.
Priority scorePatchfirst’s 0 to 100 ranking. It adds points for CISA KEV listing, ransomware use, EPSS, threat reports, public exploit code and CVSS. Every CVE page shows the breakdown. Breakdown
82.1 / 100
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 1
- Tactics
- 2/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 1 day before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (Metasploit) was available 1 day before disclosure.
- Disclosedday 0
- Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+6 yrs
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2Initial AccessTA0001
Drive-by Compromise T1189 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details.
AI mapping from the description · how it is exploited
drive-by via malicious website visit
via a crafted web site
ExecutionTA0002
JavaScript T1059.007 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details.
AI mapping from the description · primary impact
arbitrary code execution via script engine
allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 32 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2016-0189 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Drive-by CompromiseT11893 general rules
JavaScriptT1059.00729 general rules
- Adwind RAT / JRAThightest
- Adwind RAT / JRAT File Artifacthightest
- Csc.EXE Execution Form Potentially Suspicious Parenthightest
- Cscript/Wscript Uncommon Script Extension Executionhightest
- HackTool - CACTUSTORCH Remote Thread Creationhightest
- HackTool - Koadic Executionhightest
- HTML Help HH.EXE Suspicious Child Processhightest
- JXA In-memory Execution Via OSAScripthightest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Named in 1 threat report1 reportMicrosoft
Reports are matched by finding the exact id CVE-2016-0189 in their text; nobody has reviewed the match. One passage is shown per report, at most 320 characters, linked to the original.
Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
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- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
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