How severe is CVE-2019-18426?

CVE-2019-18426 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity low, and availability none.

Is CVE-2019-18426 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2019-18426 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2022-05-23, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.

What products are affected by CVE-2019-18426?

CVE-2019-18426 primarily affects Whatsapp. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2019-18426?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.

Does CVE-2019-18426 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2019-18426 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2019-8195. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2022-05-23).

When was CVE-2019-18426 published?

CVE-2019-18426 was published on 2020-01-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2019-18426

CVE-2019-18426 is a high-severity vulnerability in Whatsapp with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2022-05-23). The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-79.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.2)
CVSS v2: 5.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 68% (99th percentile)
Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2022-05-23)
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2019-8195
EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2022-05-23)
Weakness: CWE-79
Affected product: Whatsapp
Published: 2020-01-21
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop versions prior to 0.3.9309 when paired with WhatsApp for iPhone versions prior to 2.20.10 allows cross-site scripting and local file reading. Exploiting the vulnerability requires the victim to click a link preview from a specially crafted text message.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2019-18426?: A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop versions prior to 0.3.9309 when paired with WhatsApp for iPhone versions prior to 2.20.10 allows cross-site scripting and local file reading. Exploiting the vulnerability requires the victim to click a link preview from a specially crafted text message.
How severe is CVE-2019-18426?: CVE-2019-18426 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2019-18426 being actively exploited?: Yes. CVE-2019-18426 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2022-05-23, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-18426?: CVE-2019-18426 primarily affects Whatsapp. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2019-18426?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
Does CVE-2019-18426 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2019-18426 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2019-8195. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2022-05-23).
When was CVE-2019-18426 published?: CVE-2019-18426 was published on 2020-01-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:desktop:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:*

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