CVE-2016-0189: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-30T15:13:50.063Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

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.

• Context preserved from previous revision: 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. Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2016-0189
• KEV date added: 2022-03-28
• KEV due date: 2022-04-18
• NVD published: 2016-05-11
• NVD modified: 2025-10-22
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
• CVSS base score: 7.5
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1.6
• CVSS impact score: 5.9
• Attack vector: Network
• Attack complexity: High
• Privileges required: None
• User interaction: Required
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: High
• Integrity impact: High
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• microsoft / jscript (versions: 5.8)
• microsoft / vbscript (versions: 5.7)
• microsoft / vbscript (versions: 5.8)
• microsoft / internet explorer (versions: 9)
• microsoft / internet explorer (versions: 10)
• microsoft / internet explorer (versions: 11)
• n/a / n/a (versions: n/a)

Weakness Classification

• CWE-787

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• Ostorlab/KEV | stars: 608 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
  Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.
• CVEDB/awesome-cve-repo | stars: 9 | updated: 2026-03-10 | https://github.com/CVEDB/awesome-cve-repo
• CVEDB/top | stars: 2 | updated: 2026-01-17 | https://github.com/CVEDB/top

People and Organizations Mentioned

• microsoft
• Internet Explorer
• Ostorlab
• CVEDB

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Inventory microsoft / jscript (versions: 5.8) assets and confirm exact vulnerable versions with automated checks.
4. Patch in staged environments and validate closure with scanners + service health checks.
5. Map detections to MITRE ATT&CK tactics relevant to your environment and tune alert quality.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0189
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-0189
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0189
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90012
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035820
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-051
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-053
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40118/
• https://www.virusbulletin.com/virusbulletin/2017/01/journey-and-evolution-god-mode-2016-cve-2016-0189/
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-0189
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
• Repository example: https://github.com/CVEDB/awesome-cve-repo
• Repository example: https://github.com/CVEDB/top

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.