CVE-2019-18426 — A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop versions prior to 0.3.9309 when paired with WhatsApp…¶
Key facts
CVE-2019-18426 is a High (8.2) vulnerability: A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop versions prior to 0.3.9309 when paired with WhatsApp…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2022-05-23), confirming active exploitation in the wild.
Actively exploited — on the CISA KEV catalog
CVE-2019-18426 is listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2022-05-23), confirming exploitation in the wild. Federal remediation deadline: 2022-06-13. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules below.
| CVE | CVE-2019-18426 |
| Severity | High (8.2) |
| CISA KEV | Actively exploited (added 2022-05-23) |
| Detection / prevention | — |
| PoC | poc.py |
| Source | 2019/CVE-2019-18426/ |
Details¶
English | 한국어
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.
Vulnerability Details¶
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2019-18426 |
| Type | XSS |
| CVSS Score | 8.2 |
Proof of Concept¶
Download¶
# Download PoC script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fankh/vulnerability-poc/main/2019/CVE-2019-18426/poc.py
Usage¶
# Run PoC against target
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL>
# With authentication
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL> --username <USER> --password <PASS>
⚠️ Warning: This PoC is for authorized security testing only. It uses detection-only techniques and does not exploit or damage target systems.
Test Lab¶
This repository includes a Docker-based test environment with both vulnerable and patched applications.
Quick Start¶
# Clone and navigate to CVE directory
cd CVE-2019-18426
# Start both applications
docker-compose up -d
# Run tests
./run-tests.sh # Linux/Mac
./run-tests.ps1 # Windows PowerShell
Application Endpoints¶
| Application | URL | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerable App | http://localhost:8080 | Shows vulnerability |
| Patched App | http://localhost:8081 | Demonstrates fix |
Directory Structure¶
├── README.md # English documentation
├── README_KO.md # Korean documentation
├── poc.py # PoC detection script
├── docker-compose.yml # Container orchestration
├── run-tests.sh # Linux/Mac test runner
├── run-tests.ps1 # Windows test runner
├── vulnerable-app/ # Vulnerable version
│ ├── app.py
│ ├── Dockerfile
│ └── requirements.txt
└── patched-app/ # Fixed version
├── app.py
├── Dockerfile
└── requirements.txt
References¶
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157097/WhatsApp-Desktop-0.3.9308-Cross-Site-Scripting.html
- https://www.facebook.com/security/advisories/cve-2019-18426
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157097/WhatsApp-Desktop-0.3.9308-Cross-Site-Scripting.html
- https://www.facebook.com/security/advisories/cve-2019-18426
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-18426
Generated by PoC Generator on 2026-07-29T09:39:42.493078651
Frequently asked questions¶
What is CVE-2019-18426?¶
CVE-2019-18426 is a High (8.2) vulnerability: A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop versions prior to 0.3.9309 when paired with WhatsApp…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2022-05-23), confirming active exploitation in the wild.
How do I detect CVE-2019-18426?¶
Run the detection-only PoC included with this entry against your Docker test lab to confirm whether a target is affected; pair it with your own IDS logging.
How do I block or mitigate CVE-2019-18426?¶
Upgrade to a fixed version per the vendor advisory; the NVD record lists the affected versions. Use the included PoC to verify your remediation.
Is CVE-2019-18426 actively exploited?¶
Yes. CVE-2019-18426 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 2022-05-23, which means it has been exploited in the wild. CISA set a federal remediation deadline of 2022-06-13. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules above.
For authorized security testing and research only. See the full source and NVD record.