CVE-2019-3568
CVE-2019-3568 is a security flaw in Meta Platforms WhatsApp, Meta’s messaging app. Attackers can run their own code on Meta Platforms WhatsApp. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 19 Apr 2022.[1]
Meta Platforms WhatsApp is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 2.19.134, 2.19.51, 2.18.348 and 2.18.15.
Description
CISA calls it a VOIP stack buffer overflow in Meta Platforms WhatsApp. In its words: “A buffer overflow vulnerability in WhatsApp VOIP stack allowed remote code execution via specially crafted series of RTCP packets sent to a target phone number.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A buffer overflow vulnerability in WhatsApp VOIP stack allowed remote code execution via specially crafted series of RTCP packets sent to a target phone number. The issue affects WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.19.134, WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.19.44, WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.348, and WhatsApp for Tizen prior to v2.18.15.”[2]
The underlying weakness is heap buffer overflow (CWE-122), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp for Android | 2.19.134 |
| WhatsApp Business for Android | 2.19.134 |
| WhatsApp for iOS | 2.19.51 |
| WhatsApp Business for iOS | 2.19.51 |
| WhatsApp for Windows Phone | 2.18.348 |
| WhatsApp for Tizen | 2.18.15 |
Every device with Meta Platforms WhatsApp needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 19 Apr 2022, 1,071 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 10 May 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 30%. That’s in the top 2% of the flaws it scores.[3]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Update Meta Platforms WhatsApp now.Install the latest update from Meta Platforms on every device that has it, and restart when asked. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 2.19.134 or later.Fixed in version 2.19.134, 2.19.51, 2.18.348 and 2.18.15. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 30%.[3] |
See also
Other Meta Platforms WhatsApp flaws
- CVE-2025-55177: incorrect authorization ·
- CVE-2019-18426: cross-site scripting ·
Other heap buffer overflow flaws
- CVE-2026-94127, F5 BIG-IP APM: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-25249, Fortinet products: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-85880, Microsoft Windows: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-32706, Microsoft Windows: common log file system (CLFS) driver heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-24993, Microsoft Windows: NTFS heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-22718, Microsoft Windows: print spooler privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2018-6882, Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS): cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
Every Meta Platforms flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in April 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “WhatsApp VOIP Stack Buffer Overflow Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 19 Apr 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2019-3568 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 14 May 2019.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.301, percentile 98.2, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2019-3568”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.