How severe is CVE-2019-3974?

CVE-2019-3974 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2019-3974 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (76th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2019-3974?

CVE-2019-3974 affects Tenable Nessus. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2019-3974?

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-2019-3974 published?

CVE-2019-3974 was published on 2019-08-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2019-3974

CVE-2019-3974 is a high-severity vulnerability in Tenable Nessus with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.1)
CVSS v2: 8.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (76th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Tenable Nessus
Published: 2019-08-15
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Nessus 8.5.2 and earlier on Windows platforms were found to contain an issue where certain system files could be overwritten arbitrarily, potentially creating a denial of service condition.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2019-3974?: Nessus 8.5.2 and earlier on Windows platforms were found to contain an issue where certain system files could be overwritten arbitrarily, potentially creating a denial of service condition.
How severe is CVE-2019-3974?: CVE-2019-3974 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2019-3974 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (76th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-3974?: CVE-2019-3974 affects Tenable Nessus. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2019-3974?: 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-2019-3974 published?: CVE-2019-3974 was published on 2019-08-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2019-05

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:tenable:nessus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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