# What is CVE-2019-8720?

> CVE-2019-8720 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) in Webkitgtk, published on 6 March 2023. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 1.6%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2019-8720

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 78 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 8.8 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 1.6% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 6 March 2023
- **Record last updated:** 6 November 2025
- **Main product:** Webkitgtk
- **Affected products:** 24

## What is CVE-2019-8720? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

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.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: Yes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2019-8720 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 1.6%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.6%.

### Timeline

- 6 March 2023: Published
- 6 November 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2019-8720 scores **78 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2019-8720?

The published record lists 24 products. Versions are as published: "before 2.26.0" means every version up to, but not including, 2.26.0.

- [Webkitgtk](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/webkitgtk/webkitgtk) by [Webkitgtk](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/webkitgtk) (Application): before 2.26.0
- [Codeready Linux Builder for Arm64 Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/codeready_linux_builder_for_arm64_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 8.0, 8.4, 8.6
- [Codeready Linux Builder for Ibm Z Systems Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/codeready_linux_builder_for_ibm_z_systems_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 8.0, 8.4, 8.6
- [Codeready Linux Builder for Power Little Endian Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/codeready_linux_builder_for_power_little_endian_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 8.0, 8.4, 8.6
- [Codeready Linux Builder Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/codeready_linux_builder_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux for Arm64 Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_arm64_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux for Ibm Z Systems](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0, 8.0
- [Enterprise Linux for Ibm Z Systems Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Little Endian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0, 8.0
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Little Endian Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux Server Aus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux Server for Power Little Endian Update Services for Sap Solutions](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux Server Tus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_tus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Enterprise Linux Server Update Services for Sap Solutions](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.4, 8.6
- [Codeready Linux Builder](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/codeready_linux_builder) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 8.0
- [Enterprise Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.0
- [Enterprise Linux Desktop](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_desktop) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux for Arm64](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_arm64) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 8.0
- [Enterprise Linux for Power Big Endian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_power_big_endian) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux for Scientific Computing](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_for_scientific_computing) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Workstation](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_workstation) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0
- [Wpe Webkit](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/wpewebkit/wpe_webkit) by [Wpewebkit](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/wpewebkit) (Application): before 2.26.0

## How do I fix CVE-2019-8720?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [webkitgtk.org](https://webkitgtk.org/security/WSA-2019-0005.html) (Vendor advisory)
- [bugzilla.redhat.com](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1876611) (Issue tracking, Third-party advisory)
- [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-8720) (Government resource)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2019-8720?

CVE-2019-8720 is a high-severity flaw in Webkitgtk, published on 6 March 2023. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2019-8720?

It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2019-8720 is 78 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2019-8720 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 1.6%.

### Which versions does CVE-2019-8720 affect?

For Webkitgtk: before 2.26.0. The record lists 24 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2019-8720?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2019-8720 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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