CVE-2019-8720
CVE-2019-8720 is a security flaw in WebKitGTK. Attackers can run their own code on WebKitGTK. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 23 May 2022.[1]
WebKitGTK is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. WebKitGTK has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a memory corruption in WebKitGTK WebKitGTK. In its words: “WebKitGTK contains a memory corruption vulnerability which can allow an attacker to perform remote code execution.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A vulnerability was found in WebKit. The flaw is triggered when processing maliciously crafted web content that may lead to arbitrary code execution. Improved memory handling addresses the multiple memory corruption issues.”[2]
The underlying weakness is memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; WebKitGTK’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as WebKitGTK WebKitGTK.
Most families won’t have WebKitGTK; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 23 May 2022. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 13 Jun 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 2%. That’s in the top 25% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
WebKitGTK has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.WebKitGTK is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 13 Jun 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 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] | |
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 8.8.[2] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 2%.[4] |
See also
Other memory buffer error flaws
- CVE-2026-88779, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88772, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88771, Citrix NetScaler: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-8452, Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2009-3459, Adobe Acrobat and Reader: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-20821, Cisco IOS XR: open port ·
- CVE-2021-30883, Apple devices: memory corruption ·
- CVE-2021-1048, Android Kernel: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-0920, Android Kernel: race condition ·
- CVE-2020-1027, Microsoft Windows: kernel privilege escalation ·
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “WebKitGTK Memory Corruption Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 23 May 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2019-8720 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 6 Mar 2023.
- ^ WebKitGTK. Advisories and fixes: webkitgtk.org.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.016, percentile 75.2, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2019-8720”. 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.