CVE-2019-17093
CVE-2019-17093 is a high-severity vulnerability in Avast Antivirus with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-427.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
- CVSS v2: 4.4
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (43rd percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-427
- Affected product: Avast Antivirus
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
An issue was discovered in Avast antivirus before 19.8 and AVG antivirus before 19.8. A DLL Preloading vulnerability allows an attacker to implant %WINDIR%\system32\wbemcomn.dll, which is loaded into a protected-light process (PPL) and might bypass some of the self-defense mechanisms. This affects all components that use WMI, e.g., AVGSvc.exe 19.6.4546.0 and TuneupSmartScan.dll 19.1.884.0.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2019-17093?
- An issue was discovered in Avast antivirus before 19.8 and AVG antivirus before 19.8. A DLL Preloading vulnerability allows an attacker to implant %WINDIR%\system32\wbemcomn.dll, which is loaded into a protected-light process (PPL) and might bypass some of the self-defense mechanisms. This affects all components that use WMI, e.g., AVGSvc.exe 19.6.4546.0 and TuneupSmartScan.dll 19.1.884.0.
- How severe is CVE-2019-17093?
- CVE-2019-17093 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2019-17093 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (43rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2019-17093?
- CVE-2019-17093 primarily affects Avast Antivirus. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2019-17093?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2019-17093 published?
- CVE-2019-17093 was published on 2019-10-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://safebreach.com/Post/Avast-Antivirus-AVG-Antivirus-DLL-Preloading-into-PPL-and-Potential-Abuses
- https://safebreach.com/blog
Affected products (2)
- cpe:2.3:a:avast:antivirus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:avg:anti-virus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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